Retinas: New Potential Clues in Diagnosing, Treating Alzheimer's

ScienceDaily reports that a study in Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring identified certain regions in the retina that are more affected by Alzheimer's disease than others. "Detecting these signs can help diagnose the disease more accurately, allowing for earlier and more effective treatment intervention," said Professor Maya Koronyo-Hamaoui at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. The clinical trial involved individuals older than 40 showing signs of cognitive decline, whose retinal images were recorded via sectoral retinal amyloid imaging. Subsequent analysis highlighted certain peripheral regions in the retina that corresponded more closely to brain damage and cognitive status. This enabled the scientists to detect subjects with a greater accumulation of retinal amyloid protein, indicating a higher probability of developing Alzheimer's disease or cognitive impairments. Another study published in Aging Cell tested mice to further validate the retina's role in exhibiting hallmark Alzheimer's disease indicators, and identified a potential treatment. Koronyo-Hamaoui said the treatment would involve "reducing toxic proteins and harmful inflammation in the brain and, in return, enhancing a protective type of immune response that preserved the connections between neurons, which are tightly connected to cognition."