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Gaire BP, Koronyo Y, Fuchs DT, Shi H, Rentsendorj A, Danziger R, Vit JP, Mirzaei N, Doustar J, Sheyn J, Hampel H, Vergallo A, Davis MR, Jallow O, Baldacci F, Verdooner SR, Barron E, Mirzaei M, Gupta VK, Graham SL, Tayebi M, Carare RO, Sadun AA, Miller CA, Dumitrascu OM, Lahiri S, Gao L, Black KL, Koronyo-Hamaoui M. Alzheimer's disease pathophysiology in the Retina. Prog Retin Eye Res 2024; 101:101273. [PMID: 38759947 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2024.101273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
The retina is an emerging CNS target for potential noninvasive diagnosis and tracking of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Studies have identified the pathological hallmarks of AD, including amyloid β-protein (Aβ) deposits and abnormal tau protein isoforms, in the retinas of AD patients and animal models. Moreover, structural and functional vascular abnormalities such as reduced blood flow, vascular Aβ deposition, and blood-retinal barrier damage, along with inflammation and neurodegeneration, have been described in retinas of patients with mild cognitive impairment and AD dementia. Histological, biochemical, and clinical studies have demonstrated that the nature and severity of AD pathologies in the retina and brain correspond. Proteomics analysis revealed a similar pattern of dysregulated proteins and biological pathways in the retina and brain of AD patients, with enhanced inflammatory and neurodegenerative processes, impaired oxidative-phosphorylation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Notably, investigational imaging technologies can now detect AD-specific amyloid deposits, as well as vasculopathy and neurodegeneration in the retina of living AD patients, suggesting alterations at different disease stages and links to brain pathology. Current and exploratory ophthalmic imaging modalities, such as optical coherence tomography (OCT), OCT-angiography, confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy, and hyperspectral imaging, may offer promise in the clinical assessment of AD. However, further research is needed to deepen our understanding of AD's impact on the retina and its progression. To advance this field, future studies require replication in larger and diverse cohorts with confirmed AD biomarkers and standardized retinal imaging techniques. This will validate potential retinal biomarkers for AD, aiding in early screening and monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhakta Prasad Gaire
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yosef Koronyo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Dieu-Trang Fuchs
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Haoshen Shi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Altan Rentsendorj
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ron Danziger
- Department of Neurology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jean-Philippe Vit
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Nazanin Mirzaei
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jonah Doustar
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Julia Sheyn
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Harald Hampel
- Sorbonne University, Alzheimer Precision Medicine (APM), AP-HP, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Andrea Vergallo
- Sorbonne University, Alzheimer Precision Medicine (APM), AP-HP, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Miyah R Davis
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ousman Jallow
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Filippo Baldacci
- Sorbonne University, Alzheimer Precision Medicine (APM), AP-HP, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France; Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Neurology Unit, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Ernesto Barron
- Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Doheny Eye Institute, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Mehdi Mirzaei
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Vivek K Gupta
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Stuart L Graham
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Department of Clinical Medicine, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Mourad Tayebi
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
| | - Roxana O Carare
- Department of Clinical Neuroanatomy, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Alfredo A Sadun
- Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Doheny Eye Institute, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Carol A Miller
- Department of Pathology Program in Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Shouri Lahiri
- Department of Neurology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Liang Gao
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Keith L Black
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Maya Koronyo-Hamaoui
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Neurology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Applied Cell Biology and Physiology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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2
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Santos-Ortega Á, Alba-Linero C, Urbinati F, Rocha-de-Lossada C, Orti R, Reyes-Bueno JA, Garzón-Maldonado FJ, Serrano V, de Rojas-Leal C, de la Cruz-Cosme C, España-Contreras M, Rodríguez-Calvo-de-Mora M, García-Casares N. Structural and Functional Retinal Changes in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment with and without Diabetes. J Clin Med 2023; 12:7035. [PMID: 38002648 PMCID: PMC10672424 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12227035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Our objective is to analyze retinal changes using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to characterize structural and vascular alterations. This cross-sectional study involved 117 eyes: 39 eyes from patients with MCI plus diabetes (DM-MCI), 39 eyes from patients with MCI but no diabetes (MCI); and 39 healthy control eyes (C). All patients underwent a visual acuity measurement, a structural OCT, an OCT-A, and a neuropsychological examination. Our study showed a thinning of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFL) and a decrease in macular thickness when comparing the MCI-DM group to the C group (p = 0.008 and p = 0.016, respectively). In addition, an increase in arteriolar thickness (p = 0.016), a reduction in superficial capillary plexus density (p = 0.002), and a decrease in ganglion cell thickness (p = 0.027) were found when comparing the MCI-DM group with the MCI group. Diabetes may exacerbate retinal vascular changes when combined with mild cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carmen Alba-Linero
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria, 29010 Malaga, Spain
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaga, 29016 Malaga, Spain;
| | - Facundo Urbinati
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital Regional Universitario, 29011 Malaga, Spain; (F.U.); (C.R.-d.-L.); (M.E.-C.); (M.R.-C.-d.-M.)
| | - Carlos Rocha-de-Lossada
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital Regional Universitario, 29011 Malaga, Spain; (F.U.); (C.R.-d.-L.); (M.E.-C.); (M.R.-C.-d.-M.)
- Qvision, Opththalmology Department, VITHAS Almería Hospital, 04120 Almería, Spain
- Ophthalmology Department, VITHAS Málaga, 29016 Malaga, Spain
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ophthalmology Area Doctor Fedriani, University of Sevilla, 41004 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Rafael Orti
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaga, 29016 Malaga, Spain;
| | | | - Francisco Javier Garzón-Maldonado
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Virgen de la Victoria, 29010 Malaga, Spain; (F.J.G.-M.); (V.S.); (C.d.R.-L.); (C.d.l.C.-C.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), 29010 Malaga, Spain;
| | - Vicente Serrano
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Virgen de la Victoria, 29010 Malaga, Spain; (F.J.G.-M.); (V.S.); (C.d.R.-L.); (C.d.l.C.-C.)
| | - Carmen de Rojas-Leal
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Virgen de la Victoria, 29010 Malaga, Spain; (F.J.G.-M.); (V.S.); (C.d.R.-L.); (C.d.l.C.-C.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), 29010 Malaga, Spain;
| | - Carlos de la Cruz-Cosme
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Virgen de la Victoria, 29010 Malaga, Spain; (F.J.G.-M.); (V.S.); (C.d.R.-L.); (C.d.l.C.-C.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), 29010 Malaga, Spain;
| | - Manuela España-Contreras
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital Regional Universitario, 29011 Malaga, Spain; (F.U.); (C.R.-d.-L.); (M.E.-C.); (M.R.-C.-d.-M.)
| | - Marina Rodríguez-Calvo-de-Mora
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital Regional Universitario, 29011 Malaga, Spain; (F.U.); (C.R.-d.-L.); (M.E.-C.); (M.R.-C.-d.-M.)
- Qvision, Opththalmology Department, VITHAS Almería Hospital, 04120 Almería, Spain
- Ophthalmology Department, VITHAS Málaga, 29016 Malaga, Spain
| | - Natalia García-Casares
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), 29010 Malaga, Spain;
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaga, 29016 Malaga, Spain
- Centro de Investigaciones Médico-Sanitarias (CIMES), University of Malaga, 29016 Malaga, Spain
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Ibrahim Y, Xie J, Macerollo A, Sardone R, Shen Y, Romano V, Zheng Y. A Systematic Review on Retinal Biomarkers to Diagnose Dementia from OCT/OCTA Images. J Alzheimers Dis Rep 2023; 7:1201-1235. [PMID: 38025800 PMCID: PMC10657718 DOI: 10.3233/adr-230042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Traditional methods for diagnosing dementia are costly, time-consuming, and somewhat invasive. Since the retina shares significant anatomical similarities with the brain, retinal abnormalities detected via optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) have been studied as a potential non-invasive diagnostic tool for neurodegenerative disorders; however, the most effective retinal changes remain a mystery to be unraveled in this review. Objective This study aims to explore the relationship between retinal abnormalities in OCT/OCTA images and cognitive decline as well as evaluating biomarkers' effectiveness in detecting neurodegenerative diseases. Methods A systematic search was conducted on PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus until December 2022, resulted in 64 papers using agreed search keywords, and inclusion/exclusion criteria. Results The superior peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) is a trustworthy biomarker to identify most Alzheimer's disease (AD) cases; however, it is inefficient when dealing with mild AD and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The global pRNFL (pRNFL-G) is another reliable biomarker to discriminate frontotemporal dementia from mild AD and healthy controls (HCs), moderate AD and MCI from HCs, as well as identifing pathological Aβ42/tau in cognitively healthy individuals. Conversely, pRNFL-G fails to realize mild AD and the progression of AD. The average pRNFL thickness variation is considered a viable biomarker to monitor the progression of AD. Finally, the superior and average pRNFL thicknesses are considered consistent for advanced AD but not for early/mild AD. Conclusions Retinal changes may indicate dementia, but further research is needed to confirm the most effective biomarkers for early and mild AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yehia Ibrahim
- Department of Eye and Vision Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Jianyang Xie
- Department of Eye and Vision Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Antonella Macerollo
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- Department of Neurology, The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
| | - Rodolfo Sardone
- Department of Eye and Vision Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- Statistics and Epidemiology Unit, Local Healthcare Authority of Taranto, Taranto, Italy
| | - Yaochun Shen
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Vito Romano
- Department of Eye and Vision Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences, and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Yalin Zheng
- Department of Eye and Vision Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- Liverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Liverpool and Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, Liverpool, UK
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Retinal Neurodegeneration Measured With Optical Coherence Tomography and Neuroimaging in Alzheimer Disease: A Systematic Review. J Neuroophthalmol 2023; 43:116-125. [PMID: 36255105 DOI: 10.1097/wno.0000000000001673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has enabled several retinal alterations to be detected in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD), alterations that could be potential biomarkers. However, the relationship between the retina and other biomarkers of AD has been underresearched. We gathered and analyzed the literature about the relationship between retinal and cerebral alterations detected via neuroimaging in patients with AD, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and preclinical AD. METHODS This systematic review followed the PRISMA Statement guidelines through the 27 items on its checklist. We searched in PubMed, BVS, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library, using the keywords: Alzheimer's disease, optical coherence tomography, white matter, cortex, atrophy, cortical thickness, neuroimaging, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography. We included articles that studied the retina in relation to neuroimaging in patients with AD, MCI, and preclinical AD. We excluded studies without OCT, without neuroimaging, clinical cases, opinion articles, systematic reviews, and animal studies. RESULTS Of a total of 35 articles found, 23 were finally included. Although mixed results were found, most of these corroborate the relationship between retinal and brain disorders. CONCLUSIONS More rigorous research is needed in the field, including homogenized, longitudinal, and prolonged follow-up studies, as well as studies that include all stages of AD. This will enable better understanding of the retina and its implications in AD, leading to the discovery of retinal biomarkers that reflect brain alterations in AD patients in an accessible and noninvasive manner.
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Wang L, Hu Z, Chen H, Sheng X, Qin R, Shao P, Yang Z, Yao W, Zhao H, Xu Y, Bai F. Applying Retinal Vascular Structures Characteristics Coupling with Cortical Visual System in Alzheimer's Disease Spectrum Patients. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13020339. [PMID: 36831883 PMCID: PMC9954049 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13020339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Cortical visual system dysfunction is closely related to the progression of Alzheimer's Disease (AD), while retinal vascular structures play an important role in the integrity of the function of the visual network and are a potential biomarker of AD. This study explored the association between the cortical visual system and retinal vascular structures in AD-spectrum patients, and it established a screening tool to detect preclinical AD based on these parameters identified in a retinal examination. A total of 42 subjects were enrolled and were distributed into two groups: 22 patients with cognitive impairment and 20 healthy controls. All participants underwent neuropsychological tests, optical coherence tomography angiography and resting-state fMRI imaging. Seed-based functional connectivity analysis was used to construct the cortical visual network. The association of functional connectivity of the cortical visual system and retinal vascular structures was further explored in these subjects. This study found that the cognitive impairment group displayed prominently decreased functional connectivity of the cortical visual system mainly involving the right inferior temporal gyrus, left supramarginal gyrus and right postcentral gyrus. Meanwhile, we observed that retinal vascular structure characteristics deteriorated with the decline in functional connectivity in the cortical visual system. Our study provided novel insights into the aberrant cortical visual system in patients with cognitive impairment that strongly emphasized the critical role of retinal vascular structure characteristics, which could be used as potential biomarkers for diagnosing and monitoring the progression of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianlian Wang
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Jiangsu University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Zheqi Hu
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, the State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Brain Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Haifeng Chen
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, the State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Brain Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
- Jiangsu Province Stroke Center for Diagnosis and Therapy, Nanjing 210008, China
- Nanjing Neuropsychiatry Clinic Medical Center, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Xiaoning Sheng
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, the State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Brain Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Ruomeng Qin
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, the State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Brain Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
- Jiangsu Province Stroke Center for Diagnosis and Therapy, Nanjing 210008, China
- Nanjing Neuropsychiatry Clinic Medical Center, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Pengfei Shao
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, the State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Brain Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Zhiyuan Yang
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, the State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Brain Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Weina Yao
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Jiangsu University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Hui Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, the State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Brain Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
- Jiangsu Province Stroke Center for Diagnosis and Therapy, Nanjing 210008, China
- Nanjing Neuropsychiatry Clinic Medical Center, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Yun Xu
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, the State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Brain Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
- Jiangsu Province Stroke Center for Diagnosis and Therapy, Nanjing 210008, China
- Nanjing Neuropsychiatry Clinic Medical Center, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Feng Bai
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, the State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Brain Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
- Jiangsu Province Stroke Center for Diagnosis and Therapy, Nanjing 210008, China
- Nanjing Neuropsychiatry Clinic Medical Center, Nanjing 210008, China
- Geriatric Medicine Center, Affiliated Taikang Xianlin Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-25-83105960
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Hao X, Zhang W, Jiao B, Yang Q, Zhang X, Chen R, Wang X, Xiao X, Zhu Y, Liao W, Wang D, Shen L. Correlation between retinal structure and brain multimodal magnetic resonance imaging in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1088829. [PMID: 36909943 PMCID: PMC9992546 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1088829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The retina imaging and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can both reflect early changes in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and may serve as potential biomarker for early diagnosis, but their correlation and the internal mechanism of retinal structural changes remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the possible correlation between retinal structure and visual pathway, brain structure, intrinsic activity changes in AD patients, as well as to build a classification model to identify AD patients. Methods In the study, 49 AD patients and 48 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled. Retinal images were obtained by optical coherence tomography (OCT). Multimodal MRI sequences of all subjects were collected. Spearman correlation analysis and multiple linear regression models were used to assess the correlation between OCT parameters and multimodal MRI findings. The diagnostic value of combination of retinal imaging and brain multimodal MRI was assessed by performing a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results Compared with HCs, retinal thickness and multimodal MRI findings of AD patients were significantly altered (p < 0.05). Significant correlations were presented between the fractional anisotropy (FA) value of optic tract and mean retinal thickness, macular volume, macular ganglion cell layer (GCL) thickness, inner plexiform layer (IPL) thickness in AD patients (p < 0.01). The fractional amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (fALFF) value of primary visual cortex (V1) was correlated with temporal quadrant peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness (p < 0.05). The model combining thickness of GCL and temporal quadrant pRNFL, volume of hippocampus and lateral geniculate nucleus, and age showed the best performance to identify AD patients [area under the curve (AUC) = 0.936, sensitivity = 89.1%, specificity = 87.0%]. Conclusion Our study demonstrated that retinal structure change was related to the loss of integrity of white matter fiber tracts in the visual pathway and the decreased LGN volume and functional metabolism of V1 in AD patients. Trans-synaptic axonal retrograde lesions may be the underlying mechanism. Combining retinal imaging and multimodal MRI may provide new insight into the mechanism of retinal structural changes in AD and may serve as new target for early auxiliary diagnosis of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoli Hao
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Weiwei Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Bin Jiao
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Engineering Research Center of Hunan Province in Cognitive Impairment Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Neurodegenerative and Neurogenetic Diseases, Changsha, China.,Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Qijie Yang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xinyue Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Ruiting Chen
- Department of Radiology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xuewen Xiao
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yuan Zhu
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Weihua Liao
- Department of Radiology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Dongcui Wang
- Department of Radiology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Lu Shen
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Engineering Research Center of Hunan Province in Cognitive Impairment Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Neurodegenerative and Neurogenetic Diseases, Changsha, China.,Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Key Laboratory of Organ Injury, Aging and Regenerative Medicine of Hunan Province, Changsha, China
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7
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Xia X, Qin Q, Peng Y, Wang M, Yin Y, Tang Y. Retinal Examinations Provides Early Warning of Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2022; 90:1341-1357. [PMID: 36245377 DOI: 10.3233/jad-220596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Patients with Alzheimer's disease have difficulty maintaining independent living abilities as the disease progresses, causing an increased burden of care on family caregivers and the healthcare system and related financial strain. This patient group is expected to continue to expand as life expectancy climbs. Current diagnostics for Alzheimer's disease are complex, unaffordable, and invasive without regard to diagnosis quality at early stages, which urgently calls for more technical improvements for diagnosis specificity. Optical coherence tomography or tomographic angiography has been shown to identify retinal thickness loss and lower vascular density present earlier than symptom onset in these patients. The retina is an extension of the central nervous system and shares anatomic and functional similarities with the brain. Ophthalmological examinations can be an efficient tool to offer a window into cerebral pathology with the merit of easy operation. In this review, we summarized the latest observations on retinal pathology in Alzheimer's disease and discussed the feasibility of retinal imaging in diagnostic prediction, as well as limitations in current retinal examinations for Alzheimer's disease diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Xia
- Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders, Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,National Center for Neurological Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Qi Qin
- Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders, Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,National Center for Neurological Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Yankun Peng
- Department of Ophthalmology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Meng Wang
- Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders, Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yunsi Yin
- Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders, Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Tang
- Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders, Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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8
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Liu K, Li J, Raghunathan R, Zhao H, Li X, Wong STC. The Progress of Label-Free Optical Imaging in Alzheimer's Disease Screening and Diagnosis. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 13:699024. [PMID: 34366828 PMCID: PMC8341907 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.699024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
As the major neurodegenerative disease of dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD) has caused an enormous social and economic burden on society. Currently, AD has neither clear pathogenesis nor effective treatments. Positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been verified as potential tools for diagnosing and monitoring Alzheimer's disease. However, the high costs, low spatial resolution, and long acquisition time limit their broad clinical utilization. The gold standard of AD diagnosis routinely used in research is imaging AD biomarkers with dyes or other reagents, which are unsuitable for in vivo studies owing to their potential toxicity and prolonged and costly process of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for human use. Furthermore, these exogenous reagents might bring unwarranted interference to mechanistic studies, causing unreliable results. Several label-free optical imaging techniques, such as infrared spectroscopic imaging (IRSI), Raman spectroscopic imaging (RSI), optical coherence tomography (OCT), autofluorescence imaging (AFI), optical harmonic generation imaging (OHGI), etc., have been developed to circumvent this issue and made it possible to offer an accurate and detailed analysis of AD biomarkers. In this review, we present the emerging label-free optical imaging techniques and their applications in AD, along with their potential and challenges in AD diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Liu
- Translational Biophotonics Laboratory, Systems Medicine and Bioengineering Department, Houston Methodist Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jiasong Li
- Translational Biophotonics Laboratory, Systems Medicine and Bioengineering Department, Houston Methodist Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
- T. T. and W. F. Chao Center for BRAIN, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Raksha Raghunathan
- Translational Biophotonics Laboratory, Systems Medicine and Bioengineering Department, Houston Methodist Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
- T. T. and W. F. Chao Center for BRAIN, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Hong Zhao
- Translational Biophotonics Laboratory, Systems Medicine and Bioengineering Department, Houston Methodist Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Xuping Li
- T. T. and W. F. Chao Center for BRAIN, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Stephen T. C. Wong
- Translational Biophotonics Laboratory, Systems Medicine and Bioengineering Department, Houston Methodist Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
- T. T. and W. F. Chao Center for BRAIN, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, United States
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