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Bathini P, Brai E, Balin BJ, Bimler L, Corry DB, Devanand DP, Doty RL, Ehrlich GD, Eimer WA, Fulop T, Hahn DL, Hammond CJ, Infanti J, Itzhaki R, Lathe R, Little CS, McLeod R, Moein ST, Nelson AR, Perry G, Shemesh OA, Tanzi RE, Webley WC, Schultek NM, Alberi Auber L. Sensory Dysfunction, Microbial Infections, and Host Responses in Alzheimer's Disease. J Infect Dis 2024; 230:S150-S164. [PMID: 39255393 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiae328] [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] [Indexed: 09/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Sensory functions of organs of the head and neck allow humans to interact with the environment and establish social bonds. With aging, smell, taste, vision, and hearing decline. Evidence suggests that accelerated impairment in sensory abilities can reflect a shift from healthy to pathological aging, including the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurological disorders. While the drivers of early sensory alteration in AD are not elucidated, insults such as trauma and infections can affect sensory function. Herein, we review the involvement of the major head and neck sensory systems in AD, with emphasis on microbes exploiting sensory pathways to enter the brain (the "gateway" hypothesis) and the potential feedback loop by which sensory function may be impacted by central nervous system infection. We emphasize detection of sensory changes as first-line surveillance in senior adults to identify and remove potential insults, like microbial infections, that could precipitate brain pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Praveen Bathini
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- The Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Brian J Balin
- The Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Center for Chronic Disorders of Aging, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Intracell Research Group, LLC, Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
| | - Lynn Bimler
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - David B Corry
- The Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Medicine, Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Biology of Inflammation Center, and the Michael E. DeBakey VA Center for Translational Research in Inflammatory Diseases, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Biology of Inflammation Center, and the Michael E. DeBakey VA Center for Translational Research in Inflammatory Diseases, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Davangere P Devanand
- The Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurology, Irving Medical Center, Columbia University, New York, USA
| | - Richard L Doty
- The Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Smell and Taste Center, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Garth D Ehrlich
- The Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Center for Genomic Sciences, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - William A Eimer
- The Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, Mass General Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Tamas Fulop
- The Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Research Center on Aging, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - David L Hahn
- The Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Intracell Research Group, LLC, Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
| | - Christine J Hammond
- The Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Division of Research, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Joseph Infanti
- The Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Division of Research, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ruth Itzhaki
- The Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Institute of Population Ageing, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Lathe
- The Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Division of Infection Medicine, University of Edinburgh Medical School, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher Scott Little
- The Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Center for Chronic Disorders of Aging, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Rima McLeod
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Department of Pediatrics Infectious Diseases, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Shima T Moein
- The Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Smell and Taste Center, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Amy R Nelson
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, USA
| | - George Perry
- The Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Intracell Research Group, LLC, Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Or A Shemesh
- The Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Intracell Research Group, LLC, Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Rudolph E Tanzi
- The Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, Mass General Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Wilmore C Webley
- The Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Intracell Research Group, LLC, Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Nikki M Schultek
- The Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Intracell Research Group, LLC, Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
| | - Lavinia Alberi Auber
- The Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- BrainFit4Life, Fribourg, Switzerland
- Intracell Research Group, LLC, Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
- VitalizeDx, Epalinges, Switzerland
- VitalizeDx Eu, Trieste, Italy
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2
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Carrero L, Antequera D, Municio C, Carro E. Circadian rhythm disruption and retinal dysfunction: a bidirectional link in Alzheimer's disease? Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:1967-1972. [PMID: 38227523 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.390962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Dysfunction in circadian rhythms is a common occurrence in patients with Alzheimer's disease. A predominant function of the retina is circadian synchronization, carrying information to the brain through the retinohypothalamic tract, which projects to the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Notably, Alzheimer's disease hallmarks, including amyloid-β, are present in the retinas of Alzheimer's disease patients, followed/associated by structural and functional disturbances. However, the mechanistic link between circadian dysfunction and the pathological changes affecting the retina in Alzheimer's disease is not fully understood, although some studies point to the possibility that retinal dysfunction could be considered an early pathological process that directly modulates the circadian rhythm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Carrero
- Group of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre Research Institute (imas12), Madrid, Spain; Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
- PhD Program in Neuroscience, Autonoma de Madrid University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Desireé Antequera
- Neurobiology of Alzheimer's Disease Unit, Functional Unit for Research into Chronic Diseases, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Network Centre for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina Municio
- Group of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre Research Institute (imas12), Madrid, Spain; Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
| | - Eva Carro
- Neurobiology of Alzheimer's Disease Unit, Functional Unit for Research into Chronic Diseases, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Network Centre for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
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Jovanovic Macura I, Milanovic D, Tesic V, Major T, Perovic M, Adzic M, Ivkovic S. The Impact of High-Dose Fish Oil Supplementation on Mfsd2a, Aqp4, and Amyloid-β Expression in Retinal Blood Vessels of 5xFAD Alzheimer's Mouse Model. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:9400. [PMID: 39273347 PMCID: PMC11394872 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25179400] [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: 07/27/2024] [Revised: 08/21/2024] [Accepted: 08/27/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024] Open
Abstract
In patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and in animal models, the increased accumulation of amyloid β (Aβ) in retinal blood vessels strongly correlates with brain amyloid deposits and cognitive decline. The accumulation of Aβ in blood vessels may result from impaired transcytosis and a dysfunctional ocular glymphatic system in AD. High-dose fish oil (FO) supplementation has been shown to significantly change the expression of major facilitator superfamily domain-containing protein 2a (Mfsd2a), a key regulator of transcytosis, and Aquaporin 4 (Aqp4), an essential component of the glymphatic system in the retinas of WT mice. We examined the expression of Mfsd2a and Aqp4 in the retinas of 4-month-old 5xFAD female mice supplemented with high-dose FO for three weeks. There was a significant increase in Mfsd2a expression in 5xFAD retinas supplemented with FO compared to control 5xFAD mice. Additionally, the increase in Aqp4 expression observed in 4-month-old 5xFAD retinas, indicative of an impaired glymphatic system, was significantly decreased. Simultaneously, Aβ accumulation in 5xFAD retinal blood vessels was reduced following FO supplementation. These findings suggest that high-dose FO supplementation could serve as an adjunct in developing new treatments aimed at improving the regulation of transcytosis or the function of the glymphatic system in the AD retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irena Jovanovic Macura
- Institute for Biological Research "Sinisa Stankovic", National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Desanka Milanovic
- Institute for Biological Research "Sinisa Stankovic", National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Vesna Tesic
- Institute for Biological Research "Sinisa Stankovic", National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Tamara Major
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Milka Perovic
- Institute for Biological Research "Sinisa Stankovic", National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Miroslav Adzic
- Vinca-Institute for Nuclear Sciences, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Sanja Ivkovic
- Vinca-Institute for Nuclear Sciences, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
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Chan VTT, Ran AR, Wagner SK, Hui HYH, Hu X, Ko H, Fekrat S, Wang Y, Lee CS, Young AL, Tham CC, Tham YC, Keane PA, Milea D, Chen C, Wong TY, Mok VCT, Cheung CY. Value proposition of retinal imaging in Alzheimer's disease screening: A review of eight evolving trends. Prog Retin Eye Res 2024; 103:101290. [PMID: 39173942 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2024.101290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2024] [Revised: 08/13/2024] [Accepted: 08/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia worldwide. Current diagnostic modalities of AD generally focus on detecting the presence of amyloid β and tau protein in the brain (for example, positron emission tomography [PET] and cerebrospinal fluid testing), but these are limited by their high cost, invasiveness, and lack of expertise. Retinal imaging exhibits potential in AD screening and risk stratification, as the retina provides a platform for the optical visualization of the central nervous system in vivo, with vascular and neuronal changes that mirror brain pathology. Given the paradigm shift brought by advances in artificial intelligence and the emergence of disease-modifying therapies, this article aims to summarize and review the current literature to highlight 8 trends in an evolving landscape regarding the role and potential value of retinal imaging in AD screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor T T Chan
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - An Ran Ran
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Siegfried K Wagner
- NIHR Biomedical Research Center at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK
| | - Herbert Y H Hui
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Xiaoyan Hu
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ho Ko
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Gerald Choa Neuroscience Institute, Margaret K.L. Cheung Research Centre for Management of Parkinsonism, Therese Pei Fong Chow Research Centre for Prevention of Dementia, Lui Che Woo Institute of Innovative Medicine, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Science, Lau Tat-chuen Research Centre of Brain Degenerative Diseases in Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Sharon Fekrat
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Yaxing Wang
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Ophthalmology and Visual Science Key Lab, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital University of Medical Science, Beijing, China
| | - Cecilia S Lee
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Alvin L Young
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Clement C Tham
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yih Chung Tham
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Pearse A Keane
- NIHR Biomedical Research Center at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK
| | - Dan Milea
- Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore
| | - Christopher Chen
- Memory Aging & Cognition Centre, National University Health System, Singapore; Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Tien Yin Wong
- Tsinghua Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Vincent C T Mok
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Gerald Choa Neuroscience Institute, Margaret K.L. Cheung Research Centre for Management of Parkinsonism, Therese Pei Fong Chow Research Centre for Prevention of Dementia, Lui Che Woo Institute of Innovative Medicine, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Science, Lau Tat-chuen Research Centre of Brain Degenerative Diseases in Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Carol Y Cheung
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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5
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Gao Y, Wang R, Mou K, Zhang Y, Xu H, Liu Y, Yang F, Gao Y, Wang X, Bao L, Zhang J, Chen Q, Yin H, Zhang M. Association of outer retinal and choroidal alterations with neuroimaging and clinical features in posterior cortical atrophy. Alzheimers Res Ther 2024; 16:187. [PMID: 39160571 PMCID: PMC11331764 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-024-01551-3] [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: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 08/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/21/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) is a rare condition characterized by early-onset and progressive visual impairment. Individuals with PCA have relatively early-onset and progressive dementia, posing certain needs for early detection. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the association of alterations in outer retinal and choroidal structure and microvasculature with PCA neuroimaging and clinical features and the possible effects of apolipoprotein E(APOE) ε4 allele on outer retinal and choroidal alterations in participants with PCA, to detect potential ocular biomarkers for PCA screening. METHODS This cross-sectional study included PCA and age- and sex-matched healthy control participants from June 2022 to December 2023. All participants with PCA completed a comprehensive neurological evaluation. All participants were recorded baseline information and underwent an ophthalmic evaluation. Quantitative analyses were performed using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) and angiography (SS-OCTA). Adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (AO-SLO) was performed in some patients. In participants with PCA, the influence of APOE ε4 on outer retinal and choroidal alterations and the correlation of outer retinal and choroidal alterations with PCA neuroimaging and clinical features in participants with PCA were investigated. RESULTS A total of 28 participants (53 eyes) with PCA and 56 healthy control participants (112 eyes) were included in the current study. Compared with healthy control participants, participants with PCA had significantly reduced outer retinal thickness (ORT) (p < 0.001), choriocapillaris vessel density (VD) (p = 0.007), choroidal vascular index (CVI) (p = 0.005) and choroidal vascular volume (CVV) (p = 0.003). In participants with PCA, APOE ε4 carriers showed thinner ORT (p = 0.009), and increased choriocapillaris VD (p = 0.004) and CVI (p = 0.004). The PCA neuroimaging features were positively associated with the ORT, CVI and CVV. Furthermore, differential correlations were observed of PCA clinical features with the CRT, CVV and CVI. CONCLUSIONS Our findings highlighted the association of outer retinal and choroidal alterations with PCA neuroimaging and clinical features in participants with PCA. Noninvasive SS-OCT and SS-OCTA can provide potential biomarkers for the diagnosis and management of PCA, improving awareness of PCA syndrome among ophthalmologists, neurologists, and primary care providers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuzhu Gao
- Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
- Department of Ophthalmology and Research Laboratory of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Ruihan Wang
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Kefan Mou
- Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Yifan Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Hanyue Xu
- Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Yilin Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Feng Yang
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Yunxia Gao
- Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiaoyue Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Li Bao
- Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Advanced Ophthalmology Laboratory (AOL), Robotrak Technologies, Nanjing, China
| | - Qin Chen
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
| | - Hongbo Yin
- Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
| | - Ming Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
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6
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Hart de Ruyter FJ, Evers MJAP, Morrema THJ, Dijkstra AA, den Haan J, Twisk JWR, de Boer JF, Scheltens P, Bouwman FH, Verbraak FD, Rozemuller AJ, Hoozemans JJM. Neuropathological hallmarks in the post-mortem retina of neurodegenerative diseases. Acta Neuropathol 2024; 148:24. [PMID: 39160362 PMCID: PMC11333524 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-024-02769-z] [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: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 07/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/14/2024] [Indexed: 08/21/2024]
Abstract
The retina is increasingly recognised as a potential source of biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases. Hallmark protein aggregates in the retinal neuronal tissue could be imaged through light non-invasively. Post-mortem studies have already shown the presence of specific hallmark proteins in Alzheimer's disease, primary tauopathies, synucleinopathies and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. This study aims to assess proteinopathy in a post-mortem cohort with different neurodegenerative diseases and assess the presence of the primary pathology in the retina. Post-mortem eyes were collected in collaboration with the Netherlands Brain Bank from donors with Alzheimer's disease (n = 17), primary tauopathies (n = 8), synucleinopathies (n = 27), frontotemporal lobar degeneration (n = 8), mixed pathology (n = 11), other neurodegenerative diseases (n = 6), and cognitively normal controls (n = 25). Multiple cross sections of the retina and optic nerve tissue were immunostained using antibodies against pTau Ser202/Thr205 (AT8), amyloid-beta (4G8), alpha-synuclein (LB509), pTDP-43 Ser409/410 and p62-lck ligand (p62) and were assessed for the presence of aggregates and inclusions. pTau pathology was observed as a diffuse signal in Alzheimer's disease, primary tauopathies and controls with Alzheimer's disease neuropathological changes. Amyloid-beta was observed in the vessel wall and as cytoplasmic granular deposits in all groups. Alpha-synuclein pathology was observed as Lewy neurites in the retina in synucleinopathies associated with Lewy pathology and as oligodendroglial cytoplasmic inclusions in the optic nerve in multiple system atrophy. Anti-pTDP-43 generally showed typical neuronal cytoplasmic inclusion bodies in cases with frontotemporal lobar degeneration with TDP-43 and also in cases with later stages of limbic-associated TDP-43 encephalopathy. P62 showed inclusion bodies similar to those seen with anti-pTDP-43. Furthermore, pTau and alpha-synuclein pathology were significantly associated with increasing Braak stages for neurofibrillary tangles and Lewy bodies, respectively. Mixed pathology cases in this cohort consisted of cases (n = 6) with high Braak LB stages (> 4) and low or moderate AD pathology, high AD pathology (n = 1, Braak NFT 6, Thal phase 5) with moderate LB pathology, or a combination of low/moderate scores for different pathology scores in the brain (n = 4). There were no cases with advanced co-pathologies. In seven cases with Braak LB ≥ 4, LB pathology was observed in the retina, while tau pathology in the retina in the mixed pathology group (n = 11) could not be observed. From this study, we conclude that the retina reflects the presence of the major hallmark proteins associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Although low or moderate levels of copathology were found in the brains of most cases, the retina primarily manifested protein aggregates associated with the main neurodegenerative disease. These findings indicate that with appropriate retinal imaging techniques, retinal biomarkers have the potential to become highly accurate indicators for diagnosing the major neurodegenerative diseases of the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederique J Hart de Ruyter
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Manon J A P Evers
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tjado H J Morrema
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anke A Dijkstra
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jurre den Haan
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jos W R Twisk
- Epidemiology and Data Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Johannes F de Boer
- LaserLaB, Physics and Astronomy, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1081, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Philip Scheltens
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Femke H Bouwman
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Frank D Verbraak
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Ophthalmology, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Annemieke J Rozemuller
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Jeroen J M Hoozemans
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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7
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Sheida A, Farshadi M, Mirzaei A, Najjar Khalilabad S, Zarepour F, Taghavi SP, Hosseini Khabr MS, Ravaei F, Rafiei S, Mosadeghi K, Yazdani MS, Fakhraie A, Ghattan A, Zamani Fard MM, Shahyan M, Rafiei M, Rahimian N, Talaei Zavareh SA, Mirzaei H. Potential of Natural Products in the Treatment of Glioma: Focus on Molecular Mechanisms. Cell Biochem Biophys 2024:10.1007/s12013-024-01447-x. [PMID: 39150676 DOI: 10.1007/s12013-024-01447-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
Despite the waning of traditional treatments for glioma due to possible long-term issues, the healing possibilities of substances derived from nature have been reignited in the scientific community. These natural substances, commonly found in fruits and vegetables, are considered potential alternatives to pharmaceuticals, as they have been shown in prior research to impact pathways surrounding cancer progression, metastases, invasion, and resistance. This review will explore the supposed molecular mechanisms of different natural components, such as berberine, curcumin, coffee, resveratrol, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, quercetin, tanshinone, silymarin, coumarin, and lycopene, concerning glioma treatment. While the benefits of a balanced diet containing these compounds are widely recognized, there is considerable scope for investigating the efficacy of these natural products in treating glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amirhossein Sheida
- Student Research Committee, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
- School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | | | - Amirhossein Mirzaei
- Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Shakiba Najjar Khalilabad
- Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Zarepour
- Student Research Committee, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
- School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Seyed Pouya Taghavi
- Student Research Committee, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
- School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Maryam Sadat Hosseini Khabr
- Student Research Committee, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
- School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Ravaei
- Student Research Committee, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
- School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Sara Rafiei
- Endocrine Research Center, Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Firoozgar Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Kimia Mosadeghi
- Student Research Committee, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
- School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Sepehr Yazdani
- Student Research Committee, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
- School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Ali Fakhraie
- Student Research Committee, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
- School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Alireza Ghattan
- Student Research Committee, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
- School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Masoud Zamani Fard
- Student Research Committee, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
- School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Maryam Shahyan
- Student Research Committee, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
- School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Moein Rafiei
- Student Research Committee, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
- School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Neda Rahimian
- Endocrine Research Center, Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran.
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Firoozgar Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | | | - Hamed Mirzaei
- Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
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8
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Ashayeri H, Jafarizadeh A, Yousefi M, Farhadi F, Javadzadeh A. Retinal imaging and Alzheimer's disease: a future powered by Artificial Intelligence. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2024; 262:2389-2401. [PMID: 38358524 DOI: 10.1007/s00417-024-06394-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative condition that primarily affects brain tissue. Because the retina and brain share the same embryonic origin, visual deficits have been reported in AD patients. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has recently received a lot of attention due to its immense power to process and detect image hallmarks and make clinical decisions (like diagnosis) based on images. Since retinal changes have been reported in AD patients, AI is being proposed to process images to predict, diagnose, and prognosis AD. As a result, the purpose of this review was to discuss the use of AI trained on retinal images of AD patients. According to previous research, AD patients experience retinal thickness and retinal vessel density changes, which can occasionally occur before the onset of the disease's clinical symptoms. AI and machine vision can detect and use these changes in the domains of disease prediction, diagnosis, and prognosis. As a result, not only have unique algorithms been developed for this condition, but also databases such as the Retinal OCTA Segmentation dataset (ROSE) have been constructed for this purpose. The achievement of high accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity in the classification of retinal images between AD and healthy groups is one of the major breakthroughs in using AI based on retinal images for AD. It is fascinating that researchers could pinpoint individuals with a positive family history of AD based on the properties of their eyes. In conclusion, the growing application of AI in medicine promises its future position in processing different aspects of patients with AD, but we need cohort studies to determine whether it can help to follow up with healthy persons at risk of AD for a quicker diagnosis or assess the prognosis of patients with AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamidreza Ashayeri
- Neuroscience Research Center (NSRC), Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ali Jafarizadeh
- Nikookari Eye Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Milad Yousefi
- Faculty of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Fereshteh Farhadi
- Nikookari Eye Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Alireza Javadzadeh
- Department of Ophthalmology, Nikookari Eye Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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9
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Shi H, Mirzaei N, Koronyo Y, Davis MR, Robinson E, Braun GM, Jallow O, Rentsendorj A, Ramanujan VK, Fert-Bober J, Kramerov AA, Ljubimov AV, Schneider LS, Tourtellotte WG, Hawes D, Schneider JA, Black KL, Kayed R, Selenica MLB, Lee DC, Fuchs DT, Koronyo-Hamaoui M. Identification of retinal oligomeric, citrullinated, and other tau isoforms in early and advanced AD and relations to disease status. Acta Neuropathol 2024; 148:3. [PMID: 38980423 PMCID: PMC11233395 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-024-02760-8] [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: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
This study investigates various pathological tau isoforms in the retina of individuals with early and advanced Alzheimer's disease (AD), exploring their connection with disease status. Retinal cross-sections from predefined superior-temporal and inferior-temporal subregions and corresponding brains from neuropathologically confirmed AD patients with a clinical diagnosis of either mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia (n = 45) were compared with retinas from age- and sex-matched individuals with normal cognition (n = 30) and non-AD dementia (n = 4). Retinal tau isoforms, including tau tangles, paired helical filament of tau (PHF-tau), oligomeric-tau (Oligo-tau), hyperphosphorylated-tau (p-tau), and citrullinated-tau (Cit-tau), were stereologically analyzed by immunohistochemistry and Nanostring GeoMx digital spatial profiling, and correlated with clinical and neuropathological outcomes. Our data indicated significant increases in various AD-related pretangle tau isoforms, especially p-tau (AT8, 2.9-fold, pS396-tau, 2.6-fold), Cit-tau at arginine residue 209 (CitR209-tau; 4.1-fold), and Oligo-tau (T22+, 9.2-fold), as well as pretangle and mature tau tangle forms like MC-1-positive (1.8-fold) and PHF-tau (2.3-fold), in AD compared to control retinas. MCI retinas also exhibited substantial increases in Oligo-tau (5.2-fold), CitR209-tau (3.5-fold), and pS396-tau (2.2-fold). Nanostring GeoMx analysis confirmed elevated retinal p-tau at epitopes: Ser214 (2.3-fold), Ser396 (2.6-fold), Ser404 (2.4-fold), and Thr231 (1.8-fold), particularly in MCI patients. Strong associations were found between retinal tau isoforms versus brain pathology and cognitive status: a) retinal Oligo-tau vs. Braak stage, neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), and CDR cognitive scores (ρ = 0.63-0.71), b) retinal PHF-tau vs. neuropil threads (NTs) and ABC scores (ρ = 0.69-0.71), and c) retinal pS396-tau vs. NTs, NFTs, and ABC scores (ρ = 0.67-0.74). Notably, retinal Oligo-tau strongly correlated with retinal Aβ42 and arterial Aβ40 forms (r = 0.76-0.86). Overall, this study identifies and quantifies diverse retinal tau isoforms in MCI and AD patients, underscoring their link to brain pathology and cognition. These findings advocate for further exploration of retinal tauopathy biomarkers to facilitate AD detection and monitoring via noninvasive retinal imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoshen Shi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., A6212, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Nazanin Mirzaei
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., A6212, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Yosef Koronyo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., A6212, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Miyah R Davis
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., A6212, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Edward Robinson
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., A6212, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Gila M Braun
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., A6212, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Ousman Jallow
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., A6212, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Altan Rentsendorj
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., A6212, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - V Krishnan Ramanujan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Justyna Fert-Bober
- Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Advanced Clinical Biosystems Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Andrei A Kramerov
- Eye Program, Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Division of Applied Cell Biology and Physiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Alexander V Ljubimov
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., A6212, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
- Eye Program, Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Division of Applied Cell Biology and Physiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Lon S Schneider
- Departments of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences and Neurology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Warren G Tourtellotte
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., A6212, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Division of Applied Cell Biology and Physiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Debra Hawes
- Department of Pathology Program in Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Julie A Schneider
- Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Keith L Black
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., A6212, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Rakez Kayed
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience, and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Maj-Linda B Selenica
- Sanders-Brown Center On Aging, Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Daniel C Lee
- Sanders-Brown Center On Aging, Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Dieu-Trang Fuchs
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., A6212, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Maya Koronyo-Hamaoui
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., A6212, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA.
- Division of Applied Cell Biology and Physiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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10
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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 PMCID: PMC11285518 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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11
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Dumitrascu OM, Doustar J, Fuchs DT, Koronyo Y, Sherman DS, Miller MS, Johnson KO, Carare RO, Verdooner SR, Lyden PD, Schneider JA, Black KL, Koronyo-Hamaoui M. Retinal peri-arteriolar versus peri-venular amyloidosis, hippocampal atrophy, and cognitive impairment: exploratory trial. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2024; 12:109. [PMID: 38943220 PMCID: PMC11212356 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-024-01810-2] [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: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/01/2024] Open
Abstract
The relationship between amyloidosis and vasculature in cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis is increasingly acknowledged. We conducted a quantitative and topographic assessment of retinal perivascular amyloid plaque (AP) distribution in individuals with both normal and impaired cognition. Using a retrospective dataset of scanning laser ophthalmoscopy fluorescence images from twenty-eight subjects with varying cognitive states, we developed a novel image processing method to examine retinal peri-arteriolar and peri-venular curcumin-positive AP burden. We further correlated retinal perivascular amyloidosis with neuroimaging measures and neurocognitive scores. Our study unveiled that peri-arteriolar AP counts surpassed peri-venular counts throughout the entire cohort (P < 0.0001), irrespective of the primary, secondary, or tertiary vascular branch location, with a notable increase among cognitively impaired individuals. Moreover, secondary branch peri-venular AP count was elevated in the cognitively impaired (P < 0.01). Significantly, peri-venular AP count, particularly in secondary and tertiary venules, exhibited a strong correlation with clinical dementia rating, Montreal cognitive assessment score, hippocampal volume, and white matter hyperintensity count. In conclusion, our exploratory analysis detected greater peri-arteriolar versus peri-venular amyloidosis and a marked elevation of amyloid deposition in secondary branch peri-venular regions among cognitively impaired subjects. These findings underscore the potential feasibility of retinal perivascular amyloid imaging in predicting cognitive decline and AD progression. Larger longitudinal studies encompassing diverse populations and AD-biomarker confirmation are warranted to delineate the temporal-spatial dynamics of retinal perivascular amyloid deposition in cognitive impairment and the AD continuum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oana M Dumitrascu
- Departments of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, AZ, 13400 E. Shea Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ, 85259, USA.
| | - Jonah Doustar
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Dieu-Trang Fuchs
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Yosef Koronyo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Dale S Sherman
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Michelle Shizu Miller
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1415 Tulane Ave, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA
| | - Kenneth O Johnson
- NeuroVision Imaging LLC, 1395 Garden Hwy, Sacramento, CA, 95833, USA
| | - Roxana O Carare
- Department of Clinical Neuroanatomy, University of Southampton, University Road Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | | | - Patrick D Lyden
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 1501 San Pablo St, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Julie A Schneider
- Department of Pathology, Department of Neurological Sciences, Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Rush Medical College, Rush University, 600 S. Paulina St., Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Keith L Black
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Maya Koronyo-Hamaoui
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA.
- Division of Applied Cell Biology and Physiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA.
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12
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De Guia IL, Eslick S, Naismith SL, Kanduri S, Shah TM, Martins RN. The Crosstalk Between Amyloid-β, Retina, and Sleep for the Early Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease: A Narrative Review. J Alzheimers Dis Rep 2024; 8:1009-1021. [PMID: 39114553 PMCID: PMC11305848 DOI: 10.3233/adr-230150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia, which is characterised by progressive memory loss and accumulation of hallmark markers amyloid-β (Aβ) and neurofibrillary tangles in the diseased brain. The current gold standard diagnostic methods have limitations of being invasive, costly, and not easily accessible. Thus, there is a need for new avenues, such as imaging the retina for early AD diagnosis. Sleep disruption is symptomatically frequent across preclinical and AD subjects. As circadian activity, such as the sleep-wake cycle, is linked to the retina, analysis of their association may be useful additions for achieving predictive AD diagnosis. In this narrative review, we provide an overview of human retina studies concerning the deposition of Aβ, the role of the retina in sleep-wake cycle, the disruption of sleep in AD, and to gather evidence for the associations between Aβ, the retina, and sleep. Understanding the mechanisms behind the associations between Aβ, retina, and sleep could assist in the interpretation of retinal changes accurately in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shaun Eslick
- Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, Australia
| | - Sharon L. Naismith
- Faculty of Science, Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | | | | | - Ralph N. Martins
- Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, Australia
- Edith Cowen University, Joondalup, WA, Australia
- Australian Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, Nedlands, WA, Australia
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13
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Kaur P, Dahiya R, Nandave M, Sharma K, Goyal RK. Unveiling the crucial role of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in secondary diabetic complications. Cell Biochem Funct 2024; 42:e4037. [PMID: 38736204 DOI: 10.1002/cbf.4037] [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: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus is associated with secondary complications such as diabetic retinopathy (DR), nephropathy (DN), and cardiomyopathy (DCM), all of which significantly impact patient health. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) has been implicated in inflammatory responses and endothelial dysfunction, both crucial in the pathogenesis of these complications. The goal of this review is to investigate at potential therapy methods that target ICAM-1 pathways and to better understand the multifaceted role of ICAM-1 in secondary diabetic problems. A meticulous analysis of scholarly literature published globally was conducted to examine ICAM-1involvement in inflammatory processes, endothelial dysfunction, and oxidative stress related to diabetes and its complications. Elevated ICAM-1 levels are strongly associated with augmented leukocyte adhesion, compromised microvascular function, and heightened oxidative stress in diabetes. These pathways contribute significantly to DR, DN, and DCM pathogenesis, highlighting ICAM-1 as a key player in their progression. Understanding ICAM-1 role in secondary diabetic complications offers insights into novel therapeutic strategies. Targeting ICAM-1 pathways may mitigate inflammation, improve endothelial function, and ultimately attenuate diabetic complications, thereby enhancing patient health outcomes. Continued research in this area is crucial for developing effective targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prabhnain Kaur
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University, New Delhi, India
| | - Ritu Dahiya
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University, New Delhi, India
| | - Mukesh Nandave
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University, New Delhi, India
| | - Kalicharan Sharma
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, India
| | - Ramesh K Goyal
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University, New Delhi, India
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14
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Patterson EJ, Bounds AD, Wagner SK, Kadri-Langford R, Taylor R, Daly D. Oculomics: A Crusade Against the Four Horsemen of Chronic Disease. Ophthalmol Ther 2024; 13:1427-1451. [PMID: 38630354 PMCID: PMC11109082 DOI: 10.1007/s40123-024-00942-x] [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: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Chronic, non-communicable diseases present a major barrier to living a long and healthy life. In many cases, early diagnosis can facilitate prevention, monitoring, and treatment efforts, improving patient outcomes. There is therefore a critical need to make screening techniques as accessible, unintimidating, and cost-effective as possible. The association between ocular biomarkers and systemic health and disease (oculomics) presents an attractive opportunity for detection of systemic diseases, as ophthalmic techniques are often relatively low-cost, fast, and non-invasive. In this review, we highlight the key associations between structural biomarkers in the eye and the four globally leading causes of morbidity and mortality: cardiovascular disease, cancer, neurodegenerative disease, and metabolic disease. We observe that neurodegenerative disease is a particularly promising target for oculomics, with biomarkers detected in multiple ocular structures. Cardiovascular disease biomarkers are present in the choroid, retinal vasculature, and retinal nerve fiber layer, and metabolic disease biomarkers are present in the eyelid, tear fluid, lens, and retinal vasculature. In contrast, only the tear fluid emerged as a promising ocular target for the detection of cancer. The retina is a rich source of oculomics data, the analysis of which has been enhanced by artificial intelligence-based tools. Although not all biomarkers are disease-specific, limiting their current diagnostic utility, future oculomics research will likely benefit from combining data from various structures to improve specificity, as well as active design, development, and optimization of instruments that target specific disease signatures, thus facilitating differential diagnoses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Siegfried K Wagner
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Trust, 162 City Road, London, EC1V 2PD, UK
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK
| | | | - Robin Taylor
- Occuity, The Blade, Abbey Square, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 3BE, UK
| | - Dan Daly
- Occuity, The Blade, Abbey Square, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 3BE, UK
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15
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Kwapong WR, Tang F, Liu P, Zhang Z, Cao L, Feng Z, Yang S, Shu Y, Xu H, Lu Y, Zhao X, Chong B, Wu B, Liu M, Lei P, Zhang S. Choriocapillaris reduction accurately discriminates against early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:4185-4198. [PMID: 38747519 PMCID: PMC11180859 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13871] [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: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION This study addresses the urgent need for non-invasive early-onset Alzheimer's disease (EOAD) prediction. Using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), we present a choriocapillaris model sensitive to EOAD, correlating with serum biomarkers. METHODS Eighty-four EOAD patients and 73 controls were assigned to swept-source OCTA (SS-OCTA) or the spectral domain OCTA (SD-OCTA) cohorts. Our hypothesis on choriocapillaris predictive potential in EOAD was tested and validated in these two cohorts. RESULTS Both cohorts revealed diminished choriocapillaris signals, demonstrating the highest discriminatory capability (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve: SS-OCTA 0.913, SD-OCTA 0.991; P < 0.001). A sparser SS-OCTA choriocapillaris correlated with increased serum amyloid beta (Aβ)42, Aβ42/40, and phosphorylated tau (p-tau)181 levels (all P < 0.05). Apolipoprotein E status did not affect choriocapillaris measurement. DISCUSSION The choriocapillaris, observed in both cohorts, proves sensitive to EOAD diagnosis, and correlates with serum Aβ and p-tau181 levels, suggesting its potential as a diagnostic tool for identifying and tracking microvascular changes in EOAD. HIGHLIGHTS Optical coherence tomography angiography may be applied for non-invasive screening of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Choriocapillaris demonstrates high sensitivity and specificity for early-onset AD diagnosis. Microvascular dynamics abnormalities are associated with AD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fei Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduP.R. China
| | - Peng Liu
- Department of EmergencyWest China Hospital of Sichuan UniversityChengduP.R. China
| | - Ziyi Zhang
- Department of NeurologyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduP.R. China
| | - Le Cao
- Department of NeurologyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduP.R. China
| | - Zijuan Feng
- Department of NeurologyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduP.R. China
| | - Shiyun Yang
- Department of NeurologyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduP.R. China
| | - Yang Shu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduP.R. China
| | - Heng Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduP.R. China
| | - Ying Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduP.R. China
| | - Xinjun Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduP.R. China
| | - Baochen Chong
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduP.R. China
| | - Bo Wu
- Department of NeurologyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduP.R. China
| | - Ming Liu
- Department of NeurologyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduP.R. China
| | - Peng Lei
- Department of NeurologyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduP.R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduP.R. China
| | - Shuting Zhang
- Department of NeurologyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduP.R. China
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16
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Zhang Z, Kwapong WR, Cao L, Feng Z, Liu P, Wang R, Wu B, Zhang S. Correlation between serum biomarkers, brain volume, and retinal neuronal loss in early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Neurol Sci 2024; 45:2615-2623. [PMID: 38216851 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-023-07256-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE To compare the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL), retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), and ganglion cell complex (GCC) thickness measurement in early-onset Alzheimer's disease (EOAD) and controls using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). We also assessed the relationship between SD-OCT measurements and cognitive measures, serum biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD), and cerebral microstructural volume. METHODS pRNFL, RNFL, and GCC thicknesses were measured in 43 EOAD and 42 controls using SD-OCT. Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) were used to assess cognitive status, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tool was used to quantify cerebral microstructural volume, and serum biomarkers were quantified from peripheral blood. RESULTS EOAD patients had thinner pRNFL (P < 0.001), RNFL (P = 0.008), and GCC (P = 0.018) thicknesses compared to controls after adjusting for multiple factors. pRNFL thickness correlated (P = 0.016) with serum t-tau level. Serum Aβ42 (P < 0.05) concentration correlated with RNFL thickness. Importantly, occipital lobe volume (P = 0.010) correlated with GCC thicknesses in EOAD patients. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that retinal thickness may be useful markers for assessing neurodegenerative process in EOAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyi Zhang
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, No. 37 Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China
| | - William Robert Kwapong
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, No. 37 Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Le Cao
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, No. 37 Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Zijuan Feng
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, No. 37 Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Peng Liu
- Department of Emergency, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, No. 37 Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruilin Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, No. 37 Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Bo Wu
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, No. 37 Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuting Zhang
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, No. 37 Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China.
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17
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Saeed A, Hadoux X, van Wijngaarden P. Hyperspectral retinal imaging biomarkers of ocular and systemic diseases. Eye (Lond) 2024:10.1038/s41433-024-03135-9. [PMID: 38778136 DOI: 10.1038/s41433-024-03135-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Hyperspectral imaging is a frontier in the field of medical imaging technology. It enables the simultaneous collection of spectroscopic and spatial data. Structural and physiological information encoded in these data can be used to identify and localise typically elusive biomarkers. Studies of retinal hyperspectral imaging have provided novel insights into disease pathophysiology and new ways of non-invasive diagnosis and monitoring of retinal and systemic diseases. This review provides a concise overview of recent advances in retinal hyperspectral imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abera Saeed
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, 3002, VIC, Australia
- Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, 3002, VIC, Australia
| | - Xavier Hadoux
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, 3002, VIC, Australia
| | - Peter van Wijngaarden
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, 3002, VIC, Australia.
- Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, 3002, VIC, Australia.
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18
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Subedi L, Gaire BP, Koronyo Y, Koronyo-Hamaoui M, Crother TR. Chlamydia pneumoniae in Alzheimer's disease pathology. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1393293. [PMID: 38770241 PMCID: PMC11102982 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1393293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
While recent advances in diagnostics and therapeutics offer promising new approaches for Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis and treatment, there is still an unmet need for an effective remedy, suggesting new avenues of research are required. Besides many plausible etiologies for AD pathogenesis, mounting evidence supports a possible role for microbial infections. Various microbes have been identified in the postmortem brain tissues of human AD patients. Among bacterial pathogens in AD, Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cp) has been well characterized in human AD brains and is a leading candidate for an infectious involvement. However, no definitive studies have been performed proving or disproving Cp's role as a causative or accelerating agent in AD pathology and cognitive decline. In this review, we discuss recent updates for the role of Cp in human AD brains as well as experimental models of AD. Furthermore, based on the current literature, we have compiled a list of potential mechanistic pathways which may connect Cp with AD pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lalita Subedi
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Guerin Children's at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Infectious and Immunologic Diseases Research Center (IIDRC), Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Bhakta Prasad Gaire
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Yosef Koronyo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Maya Koronyo-Hamaoui
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Timothy R. Crother
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Guerin Children's at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Infectious and Immunologic Diseases Research Center (IIDRC), Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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19
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Ravichandran S, Snyder PJ, Alber J, Kenny MR, Rothstein A, Brown K, Murchison CF, Clay OJ, Roberson ED, Arthur E. Quantifying Putative Retinal Gliosis in Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2024; 65:5. [PMID: 38696189 PMCID: PMC11077916 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.65.5.5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose Neuroinflammation plays a significant role in the pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Mouse models of AD and postmortem biopsy of patients with AD reveal retinal glial activation comparable to central nervous system immunoreactivity. We hypothesized that the surface area of putative retinal gliosis observed in vivo using en face optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging will be larger in patients with preclinical AD versus controls. Methods The Spectralis II instrument was used to acquire macular centered 20 × 20 and 30 × 25-degrees spectral domain OCT images of 76 participants (132 eyes). A cohort of 22 patients with preclinical AD (40 eyes, mean age = 69 years, range = 60-80 years) and 20 control participants (32 eyes, mean age = 66 years, range = 58-82 years, P = 0.11) were included for the assessment of difference in surface area of putative retinal gliosis and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness. The surface area of putative retinal gliosis and RNFL thickness for the nine sectors of the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) map were compared between groups using generalized linear mixed models. Results The surface area of putative retinal gliosis was significantly greater in the preclinical AD group (0.97 ± 0.55 mm2) compared to controls (0.68 ± 0.40 mm2); F(1,70) = 4.41, P = 0.039; Cohen's d = 0.61. There was no significant difference between groups for RNFL thickness in the 9 ETDRS sectors, P > 0.05. Conclusions Our analysis shows greater putative retinal gliosis in preclinical AD compared to controls. This demonstrates putative retinal gliosis as a potential biomarker for AD-related neuroinflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swetha Ravichandran
- School of Optometry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Peter J. Snyder
- Department of Neurology, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, United States
| | - Jessica Alber
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, United States
- George and Anne Ryan Institute for Neuroscience, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, United States
- Butler Hospital Memory and Aging Program, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
| | - Madelyn R. Kenny
- School of Optometry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Andrew Rothstein
- School of Optometry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Keisha Brown
- School of Optometry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Charles F. Murchison
- Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Olivio J. Clay
- Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Erik D. Roberson
- Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Edmund Arthur
- School of Optometry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
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20
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Elmers J, Colzato LS, Ziemssen F, Ziemssen T, Beste C. Optical coherence tomography as a potential surrogate marker of dopaminergic modulation across the life span. Ageing Res Rev 2024; 96:102280. [PMID: 38518921 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2024.102280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
The retina has been considered a "window to the brain" and shares similar innervation by the dopaminergic system with the cortex in terms of an unequal distribution of D1 and D2 receptors. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview that Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), a non-invasive imaging technique, which provides an "in vivo" representation of the retina, shows promise to be used as a surrogate marker of dopaminergic neuromodulation in cognition. Overall, most evidence supports reduced retinal thickness in individuals with dopaminergic dysregulation (e.g., patients with Parkinson's Disease, non-demented older adults) and with poor cognitive functioning. By using the theoretical framework of metacontrol, we derive hypotheses that retinal thinning associated to decreased dopamine (DA) levels affecting D1 families, might lead to a decrease in the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) affecting cognitive persistence (depending on D1-modulated DA activity) but not cognitive flexibility (depending on D2-modulated DA activity). We argue that the use of OCT parameters might not only be an insightful for cognitive neuroscience research, but also a potentially effective tool for individualized medicine with a focus on cognition. As our society progressively ages in the forthcoming years and decades, the preservation of cognitive abilities and promoting healthy aging will hold of crucial significance. OCT has the potential to function as a swift, non-invasive, and economical method for promptly recognizing individuals with a heightened vulnerability to cognitive deterioration throughout all stages of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Elmers
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Germany; Center of Clinical Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Germany
| | - Lorenza S Colzato
- Cognitive Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China
| | - Focke Ziemssen
- Ophthalmological Clinic, University Clinic Leipzig, Germany
| | - Tjalf Ziemssen
- Center of Clinical Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Germany
| | - Christian Beste
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Germany; Cognitive Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China.
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Ho K, Bodi NE, Sharma TP. Normal-Tension Glaucoma and Potential Clinical Links to Alzheimer's Disease. J Clin Med 2024; 13:1948. [PMID: 38610712 PMCID: PMC11012506 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13071948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Glaucoma is a group of optic neuropathies and the world's leading cause of irreversible blindness. Normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) is a subtype of glaucoma that is characterized by a typical pattern of peripheral retinal loss, in which the patient's intraocular pressure (IOP) is considered within the normal range (<21 mmHg). Currently, the only targetable risk factor for glaucoma is lowering IOP, and patients with NTG continue to experience visual field loss after IOP-lowering treatments. This demonstrates the need for a better understanding of the pathogenesis of NTG and underlying mechanisms leading to neurodegeneration. Recent studies have found significant connections between NTG and cerebral manifestations, suggesting NTG as a neurodegenerative disease beyond the eye. Gaining a better understanding of NTG can potentially provide new Alzheimer's Disease diagnostics capabilities. This review identifies the epidemiology, current biomarkers, altered fluid dynamics, and cerebral and ocular manifestations to examine connections and discrepancies between the mechanisms of NTG and Alzheimer's Disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen Ho
- Eugene and Marilyn Glick Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA;
| | - Nicole E. Bodi
- Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA;
| | - Tasneem P. Sharma
- Eugene and Marilyn Glick Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA;
- Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA;
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
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22
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Sun Y, Zhang L, Ye H, Leng L, Chen Y, Su Y, Ren P, Lu H, Peng G. Potential ocular indicators to distinguish posterior cortical atrophy and typical Alzheimer's disease: a cross-section study using optical coherence tomography angiography. Alzheimers Res Ther 2024; 16:64. [PMID: 38528626 PMCID: PMC10962115 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-024-01431-w] [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: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) is a form of dementia that frequently displays significant visual dysfunction and relatively preserved cognitive and executive functions, thus hindering early diagnosis and treatment. This study aimed to investigate possible fundus markers in PCA patients and compare them with those of typical Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients to seek potential diagnostic patterns. METHODS Age-matched PCA and AD patients and healthy controls (HC) completed optometry, intraocular pressure measurement, neuropsychologic assessments, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) examination in one visit. Overall, six outcomes of thicknesses of various retinal layers and seven outcomes of the retinal microvascular network were calculated. After adjusting for age, sex, and years of education, the OCT and OCTA results were analyzed using analysis of covariance and generalized linear models. Correlation analyses were performed using Spearman correlation, and ROC curves were plotted. RESULTS Twelve PCA patients, nineteen AD patients, and thirty HC, aged 45-80 years were included. Fifty HC, thirty AD, and twenty PCA eyes were available for foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area analysis; forty-nine HC, thirty-four AD, and eighteen PCA eyes were available for OCT and OCTA assessments. PCA patients had thinner retinal nerve fiber layer and ganglion cell layer + inner plexiform layer than HC in the 0-3 mm circle and 1-3 mm ring. Few structural differences were observed between the AD group and the other two groups. The flow area of the superficial capillary plexus and the intermediate capillary plexus was smaller in the PCA group than in the HC group in the 0-1 mm circle, 0-3 mm circle. MMSE performed better than any combination of optical parameters in identifying AD and PCA from HC (AUC = 1), while the combination of MoCA, retinal thickness and vascular density of ICP in the 1-3 mm ring, with flow area of ICP in the 0-1 mm circle showed the strongest ability to distinguish PCA from AD (AUC = 0.944). CONCLUSIONS PCA patients exhibited similar impairment patterns to AD patients in the fundus structure and microvascular network. OCTA may aid in the non-invasive detection of AD and PCA, but still remains to be substantiated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Sun
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Lumi Zhang
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Hui Ye
- Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Lumin Leng
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Chen
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Yujie Su
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Peifang Ren
- Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Hong Lu
- Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
| | - Guoping Peng
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
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Stepanchuk AA, Stys PK. Spectral Fluorescence Pathology of Protein Misfolding Disorders. ACS Chem Neurosci 2024; 15:898-908. [PMID: 38407017 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Protein misfolding has been extensively studied in the context of neurodegenerative disorders and systemic amyloidoses. Due to misfolding and aggregation of proteins being highly heterogeneous and generating a variety of structures, a growing body of evidence illustrates numerous ways how the aggregates contribute to progression of diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and prion disorders. Different misfolded species of the same protein, commonly referred to as strains, appear to play a significant role in shaping the disease clinical phenotype and clinical progression. The distinct toxicity profiles of various misfolded proteins underscore their importance. Current diagnostics struggle to differentiate among these strains early in the disease course. This review explores the potential of spectral fluorescence approaches to illuminate the complexities of protein misfolding pathology and discusses the applications of advanced spectral methods in the detection and characterization of protein misfolding disorders. By examining spectrally variable probes, current data analysis approaches, and important considerations for the use of these techniques, this review aims to provide an overview of the progress made in this field and highlights directions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasiia A Stepanchuk
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Peter K Stys
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
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Dumitrascu OM, Doustar J, Fuchs DT, Koronyo Y, Sherman DS, Miller MS, Johnson KO, Carare RO, Verdooner SR, Lyden PD, Schneider JA, Black KL, Koronyo-Hamaoui M. Distinctive retinal peri-arteriolar versus peri-venular amyloid plaque distribution correlates with the cognitive performance. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.27.580733. [PMID: 38464292 PMCID: PMC10925252 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.27.580733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Introduction The vascular contribution to Alzheimer's disease (AD) is tightly connected to cognitive performance across the AD continuum. We topographically describe retinal perivascular amyloid plaque (AP) burden in subjects with normal or impaired cognition. Methods Using scanning laser ophthalmoscopy, we quantified retinal peri-arteriolar and peri-venular curcumin-positive APs in the first, secondary and tertiary branches in twenty-eight subjects. Perivascular AP burden among cognitive states was correlated with neuroimaging and cognitive measures. Results Peri-arteriolar exceeded peri-venular AP count (p<0.0001). Secondary branch AP count was significantly higher in cognitively impaired (p<0.01). Secondary small and tertiary peri-venular AP count strongly correlated with clinical dementia rating, hippocampal volumes, and white matter hyperintensity count. Discussion Our topographic analysis indicates greater retinal amyloid accumulation in the retinal peri-arteriolar regions overall, and distal peri-venular regions in cognitively impaired individuals. Larger longitudinal studies are warranted to understand the temporal-spatial relationship between vascular dysfunction and perivascular amyloid deposition in AD. Highlights Retinal peri-arteriolar region exhibits more amyloid compared with peri-venular regions.Secondary retinal vascular branches have significantly higher perivascular amyloid burden in subjects with impaired cognition, consistent across sexes.Cognitively impaired individuals have significantly greater retinal peri-venular amyloid deposits in the distal small branches, that correlate with CDR and hippocampal volumes.
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Shi H, Mirzaei N, Koronyo Y, Davis MR, Robinson E, Braun GM, Jallow O, Rentsendorj A, Ramanujan VK, Fert-Bober J, Kramerov AA, Ljubimov AV, Schneider LS, Tourtellotte WG, Hawes D, Schneider JA, Black KL, Kayed R, Selenica MLB, Lee DC, Fuchs DT, Koronyo-Hamaoui M. Identification of retinal tau oligomers, citrullinated tau, and other tau isoforms in early and advanced AD and relations to disease status. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.13.579999. [PMID: 38405854 PMCID: PMC10888760 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.13.579999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Importance This study identifies and quantifies diverse pathological tau isoforms in the retina of both early and advanced-stage Alzheimer's disease (AD) and determines their relationship with disease status. Objective A case-control study was conducted to investigate the accumulation of retinal neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), paired helical filament (PHF)-tau, oligomeric tau (oligo-tau), hyperphosphorylated tau (p-tau), and citrullinated tau (Cit-tau) in relation to the respective brain pathology and cognitive dysfunction in mild cognitively impaired (MCI) and AD dementia patients versus normal cognition (NC) controls. Design setting and participants Eyes and brains from donors diagnosed with AD, MCI (due to AD), and NC were collected (n=75 in total), along with clinical and neuropathological data. Brain and retinal cross-sections-in predefined superior-temporal and inferior-temporal (ST/IT) subregions-were subjected to histopathology analysis or Nanostring GeoMx digital spatial profiling. Main outcomes and measure Retinal burden of NFTs (pretangles and mature tangles), PHF-tau, p-tau, oligo-tau, and Cit-tau was assessed in MCI and AD versus NC retinas. Pairwise correlations revealed associations between retinal and brain parameters and cognitive status. Results Increased retinal NFTs (1.8-fold, p=0.0494), PHF-tau (2.3-fold, p<0.0001), oligo-tau (9.1-fold, p<0.0001), CitR 209 -tau (4.3-fold, p<0.0001), pSer202/Thr205-tau (AT8; 4.1-fold, p<0.0001), and pSer396-tau (2.8-fold, p=0.0015) were detected in AD patients. Retinas from MCI patients showed significant increases in NFTs (2.0-fold, p=0.0444), CitR 209 -tau (3.5-fold, p=0.0201), pSer396-tau (2.6-fold, p=0.0409), and, moreover, oligo-tau (5.8-fold, p=0.0045). Nanostring GeoMx quantification demonstrated upregulated retinal p-tau levels in MCI patients at phosphorylation sites of Ser214 (2.3-fold, p=0.0060), Ser396 (1.8-fold, p=0.0052), Ser404 (2.4-fold, p=0.0018), and Thr231 (3.3-fold, p=0.0028). Strong correlations were found between retinal tau forms to paired-brain pathology and cognitive status: a) retinal oligo-tau vs. Braak stage (r=0.60, P=0.0002), b) retinal PHF-tau vs. ABC average score (r=0.64, P=0.0043), c) retinal pSer396-tau vs. brain NFTs (r=0.68, P<0.0001), and d) retinal pSer202/Thr205-tau vs. MMSE scores (r= -0.77, P=0.0089). Conclusions and Relevance This study reveals increases in immature and mature retinal tau isoforms in MCI and AD patients, highlighting their relationship with brain pathology and cognition. The data provide strong incentive to further explore retinal tauopathy markers that may be useful for early detection and monitoring of AD staging through noninvasive retinal imaging.
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Bahr T, Vu TA, Tuttle JJ, Iezzi R. Deep Learning and Machine Learning Algorithms for Retinal Image Analysis in Neurodegenerative Disease: Systematic Review of Datasets and Models. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2024; 13:16. [PMID: 38381447 PMCID: PMC10893898 DOI: 10.1167/tvst.13.2.16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose Retinal images contain rich biomarker information for neurodegenerative disease. Recently, deep learning models have been used for automated neurodegenerative disease diagnosis and risk prediction using retinal images with good results. Methods In this review, we systematically report studies with datasets of retinal images from patients with neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and others. We also review and characterize the models in the current literature which have been used for classification, regression, or segmentation problems using retinal images in patients with neurodegenerative diseases. Results Our review found several existing datasets and models with various imaging modalities primarily in patients with Alzheimer's disease, with most datasets on the order of tens to a few hundred images. We found limited data available for the other neurodegenerative diseases. Although cross-sectional imaging data for Alzheimer's disease is becoming more abundant, datasets with longitudinal imaging of any disease are lacking. Conclusions The use of bilateral and multimodal imaging together with metadata seems to improve model performance, thus multimodal bilateral image datasets with patient metadata are needed. We identified several deep learning tools that have been useful in this context including feature extraction algorithms specifically for retinal images, retinal image preprocessing techniques, transfer learning, feature fusion, and attention mapping. Importantly, we also consider the limitations common to these models in real-world clinical applications. Translational Relevance This systematic review evaluates the deep learning models and retinal features relevant in the evaluation of retinal images of patients with neurodegenerative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler Bahr
- Mayo Clinic, Department of Ophthalmology, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Truong A. Vu
- University of the Incarnate Word, School of Osteopathic Medicine, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Jared J. Tuttle
- University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Raymond Iezzi
- Mayo Clinic, Department of Ophthalmology, Rochester, MN, USA
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Kelly L, Brown C, Michalik D, Hawkes CA, Aldea R, Agarwal N, Salib R, Alzetani A, Ethell DW, Counts SE, de Leon M, Fossati S, Koronyo‐Hamaoui M, Piazza F, Rich SA, Wolters FJ, Snyder H, Ismail O, Elahi F, Proulx ST, Verma A, Wunderlich H, Haack M, Dodart JC, Mazer N, Carare RO. Clearance of interstitial fluid (ISF) and CSF (CLIC) group-part of Vascular Professional Interest Area (PIA), updates in 2022-2023. Cerebrovascular disease and the failure of elimination of Amyloid-β from the brain and retina with age and Alzheimer's disease: Opportunities for therapy. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:1421-1435. [PMID: 37897797 PMCID: PMC10917045 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023]
Abstract
This editorial summarizes advances from the Clearance of Interstitial Fluid and Cerebrospinal Fluid (CLIC) group, within the Vascular Professional Interest Area (PIA) of the Alzheimer's Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment (ISTAART). The overarching objectives of the CLIC group are to: (1) understand the age-related physiology changes that underlie impaired clearance of interstitial fluid (ISF) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) (CLIC); (2) understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying intramural periarterial drainage (IPAD) in the brain; (3) establish novel diagnostic tests for Alzheimer's disease (AD), cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), retinal amyloid vasculopathy, amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA) of spontaneous and iatrogenic CAA-related inflammation (CAA-ri), and vasomotion; and (4) establish novel therapies that facilitate IPAD to eliminate amyloid β (Aβ) from the aging brain and retina, to prevent or reduce AD and CAA pathology and ARIA side events associated with AD immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Kelly
- Faculty of MedicineUniversity of SouthamptonSouthamptonHampshireUK
| | | | - Daniel Michalik
- Faculty of MedicineUniversity of SouthamptonSouthamptonHampshireUK
| | | | - Roxana Aldea
- Roche Pharma Research & Early DevelopmentRoche Innovation Center BaselBaselSwitzerland
| | - Nivedita Agarwal
- Neuroradiology sectionScientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio MedeaBosisio Parini, LCItaly
| | - Rami Salib
- Faculty of MedicineUniversity of SouthamptonSouthamptonHampshireUK
| | - Aiman Alzetani
- Faculty of MedicineUniversity of SouthamptonSouthamptonHampshireUK
| | | | - Scott E. Counts
- Dept. Translational NeuroscienceDept. Family MedicineMichigan State UniversityGrand RapidsMichiganUSA
| | - Mony de Leon
- Brain Health Imaging InstituteDepartment of RadiologyWeill Cornell MedicineNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | | | - Maya Koronyo‐Hamaoui
- Departments of NeurosurgeryNeurology, and Biomedical SciencesMaxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research InstituteCedars‐Sinai Medical CenterLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | | | | | | | - Heather Snyder
- Alzheimer's AssociationMedical & Scientific RelationsChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Ozama Ismail
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Fanny Elahi
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | | | - Ajay Verma
- Formation Venture Engineering FoundryTopsfieldMassachusettsUSA
| | | | | | | | | | - Roxana O. Carare
- Faculty of MedicineUniversity of SouthamptonSouthamptonHampshireUK
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Robbins CB, Rathinavelu J, Ma JP, Soundararajan S, Stinnett SS, Liu AJ, Johnson KG, Grewal DS, Fekrat S. Peripapillary Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in Alzheimer's Disease, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Normal Cognition. Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina 2024; 55:78-84. [PMID: 38346150 DOI: 10.3928/23258160-20240107-01] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to identify peripapillary microvascular changes in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). PATIENTS AND METHODS In this prospective study, 66 eyes of 36 subjects with AD, 119 eyes of 63 with MCI, and 513 eyes of 265 controls with normal cognition were enrolled. Peripapillary capillary perfusion density (CPD), capillary flux index (CFI), and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness were determined. RESULTS Average CPD differed significantly between all three groups (P = 0.001), being significantly greater in AD vs controls (0.446 ± 0.015 vs 0.439 ± 0.017, P = 0.001) and MCI vs controls (0.443 ± 0.020 vs 0.439 ± 0.017, P = 0.007) but not AD vs MCI (P = 0.69). CFI and average RNFL thickness did not significantly differ among groups (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSION Peripapillary CPD is increased in eyes with AD or MCI compared to controls despite similar RNFL thickness. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina 2024;55:78-84.].
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Casciano F, Zauli E, Celeghini C, Caruso L, Gonelli A, Zauli G, Pignatelli A. Retinal Alterations Predict Early Prodromal Signs of Neurodegenerative Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1689. [PMID: 38338966 PMCID: PMC10855697 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are an increasingly common group of diseases that occur late in life with a significant impact on personal, family, and economic life. Among these, Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are the major disorders that lead to mild to severe cognitive and physical impairment and dementia. Interestingly, those diseases may show onset of prodromal symptoms early after middle age. Commonly, the evaluation of these neurodegenerative diseases is based on the detection of biomarkers, where functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have shown a central role in revealing early or prodromal phases, although it can be expensive, time-consuming, and not always available. The aforementioned diseases have a common impact on the visual system due to the pathophysiological mechanisms shared between the eye and the brain. In Parkinson's disease, α-synuclein deposition in the retinal cells, as well as in dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra, alters the visual cortex and retinal function, resulting in modifications to the visual field. Similarly, the visual cortex is modified by the neurofibrillary tangles and neuritic amyloid β plaques typically seen in the Alzheimer's disease brain, and this may reflect the accumulation of these biomarkers in the retina during the early stages of the disease, as seen in postmortem retinas of AD patients. In this light, the ophthalmic evaluation of retinal neurodegeneration could become a cost-effective method for the early diagnosis of those diseases, overcoming the limitations of functional and structural imaging of the deep brain. This analysis is commonly used in ophthalmic practice, and interest in it has risen in recent years. This review will discuss the relationship between Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease with retinal degeneration, highlighting how retinal analysis may represent a noninvasive and straightforward method for the early diagnosis of these neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Casciano
- Department of Translational Medicine and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Enrico Zauli
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Claudio Celeghini
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Caruso
- Department of Environment and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Arianna Gonelli
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Giorgio Zauli
- Research Department, King Khaled Eye Specialistic Hospital, Riyadh 12329, Saudi Arabia
| | - Angela Pignatelli
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, 44124 Ferrara, Italy
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Etebar F, Harkin DG, White AR, Dando SJ. Non-invasive in vivo imaging of brain and retinal microglia in neurodegenerative diseases. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1355557. [PMID: 38348116 PMCID: PMC10859418 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1355557] [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: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Microglia play crucial roles in immune responses and contribute to fundamental biological processes within the central nervous system (CNS). In neurodegenerative diseases, microglia undergo functional changes and can have both protective and pathogenic roles. Microglia in the retina, as an extension of the CNS, have also been shown to be affected in many neurological diseases. While our understanding of how microglia contribute to pathological conditions is incomplete, non-invasive in vivo imaging of brain and retinal microglia in living subjects could provide valuable insights into their role in the neurodegenerative diseases and open new avenues for diagnostic biomarkers. This mini-review provides an overview of the current brain and retinal imaging tools for studying microglia in vivo. We focus on microglia targets, the advantages and limitations of in vivo microglia imaging approaches, and applications for evaluating the pathogenesis of neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fazeleh Etebar
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Mental Health and Neuroscience Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, Australia
| | - Damien G. Harkin
- Centre for Vision and Eye Research, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Anthony R. White
- Mental Health and Neuroscience Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, Australia
| | - Samantha J. Dando
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Centre for Vision and Eye Research, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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Yoon JM, Lim CY, Noh H, Nam SW, Jun SY, Kim MJ, Song MY, Jang H, Kim HJ, Seo SW, Na DL, Chung MJ, Ham DI, Kim K. Enhancing foveal avascular zone analysis for Alzheimer's diagnosis with AI segmentation and machine learning using multiple radiomic features. Sci Rep 2024; 14:1841. [PMID: 38253722 PMCID: PMC10810355 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-51612-8] [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: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
We propose a hybrid technique that employs artificial intelligence (AI)-based segmentation and machine learning classification using multiple features extracted from the foveal avascular zone (FAZ)-a retinal biomarker for Alzheimer's disease-to improve the disease diagnostic performance. Imaging data of optical coherence tomography angiography from 37 patients with Alzheimer's disease and 48 healthy controls were investigated. The presence or absence of brain amyloids was confirmed using amyloid positron emission tomography. In the superficial capillary plexus of the angiography scans, the FAZ was automatically segmented using an AI method to extract multiple biomarkers (area, solidity, compactness, roundness, and eccentricity), which were paired with clinical data (age and sex) as common correction variables. We used a light-gradient boosting machine (a light-gradient boosting machine is a machine learning algorithm based on trees utilizing gradient boosting) to diagnose Alzheimer's disease by integrating the corresponding multiple radiomic biomarkers. Fivefold cross-validation was applied for analysis, and the diagnostic performance for Alzheimer's disease was determined by the area under the curve. The proposed hybrid technique achieved an area under the curve of [Formula: see text]%, outperforming the existing single-feature (area) criteria by over 13%. Furthermore, in the holdout test set, the proposed technique exhibited a 14% improvement compared to single features, achieving an area under the curve of 72.0± 4.8%. Based on these facts, we have demonstrated the effectiveness of our technology in achieving significant performance improvements in FAZ-based Alzheimer's diagnosis research through the use of multiple radiomic biomarkers (area, solidity, compactness, roundness, and eccentricity).
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Affiliation(s)
- Je Moon Yoon
- Department of Ophthalmology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea
| | - Chae Yeon Lim
- Department of Medical Device Management and Research, SAIHST, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea
| | - Hoon Noh
- Hangil Eye Hospital, 35 Bupyeong-daero, Bupyeong-gu, Incheon, 21388, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Wan Nam
- Hangil Eye Hospital, 35 Bupyeong-daero, Bupyeong-gu, Incheon, 21388, Republic of Korea
- Department of Ophthalmology, Catholic Kwandong University College of Medicine, 35 Bupyeong-daero, Bupyeong-gu, Incheon, 21388, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Yeon Jun
- Department of Ophthalmology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Ji Kim
- Department of Ophthalmology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi Yeon Song
- Department of Ophthalmology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyemin Jang
- Alzheimer's Disease Convergence Research Center, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Neurology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea
- Neuroscience Center, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Digital Health, Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Sciences & Technology, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee Jin Kim
- Alzheimer's Disease Convergence Research Center, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Neurology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Won Seo
- Alzheimer's Disease Convergence Research Center, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Neurology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea
- Neuroscience Center, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Duk L Na
- Alzheimer's Disease Convergence Research Center, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Neurology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea
- Happymind Clinic, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Myung Jin Chung
- Department of Data Convergence and Future Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
- Department of Radiology and AI Research Center, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea
| | - Don-Il Ham
- Department of Ophthalmology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea.
| | - Kyungsu Kim
- Medical AI Research Center, Research Institute for Future Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Data Convergence and Future Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea.
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Shen Z, Zhang S, Yu W, Yue M, Hong C. Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography: Revolutionizing Clinical Diagnostics and Treatment in Central Nervous System Disease. Aging Dis 2024:AD.2024.0112. [PMID: 38300645 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2024.0112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), as a new generation of non-invasive and efficient fundus imaging technology, can provide non-invasive assessment of vascular lesions in the retina and choroid. In terms of anatomy and development, the retina is referred to as an extension of the central nervous system (CNS). CNS diseases are closely related to changes in fundus structure and blood vessels, and direct visualization of fundus structure and blood vessels provides an effective "window" for CNS research. This has important practical significance for identifying the characteristic changes of various CNS diseases on OCTA in the future, and plays a key role in promoting early screening, diagnosis, and monitoring of disease progression in CNS diseases. This article reviews relevant fundus studies by comparing and summarizing the unique advantages and existing limitations of OCTA in various CNS disease patients, in order to demonstrate the clinical significance of OCTA in the diagnosis and treatment of CNS diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeqi Shen
- Postgraduate training base Alliance of Wenzhou Medical University (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Sheng Zhang
- Center for Rehabilitation Medicine, Department of Neurology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Weitao Yu
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Mengmeng Yue
- Postgraduate training base Alliance of Wenzhou Medical University (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chaoyang Hong
- Center for Rehabilitation Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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Stout JA, Mahzarnia A, Dai R, Anderson RJ, Cousins S, Zhuang J, Lad EM, Whitaker DB, Madden DJ, Potter GG, Whitson HE, Badea A. Accelerated Brain Atrophy, Microstructural Decline and Connectopathy in Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Biomedicines 2024; 12:147. [PMID: 38255252 PMCID: PMC10813528 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12010147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has recently been linked to cognitive impairment. We hypothesized that AMD modifies the brain aging trajectory, and we conducted a longitudinal diffusion MRI study on 40 participants (20 with AMD and 20 controls) to reveal the location, extent, and dynamics of AMD-related brain changes. Voxel-based analyses at the first visit identified reduced volume in AMD participants in the cuneate gyrus, associated with vision, and the temporal and bilateral cingulate gyrus, linked to higher cognition and memory. The second visit occurred 2 years after the first and revealed that AMD participants had reduced cingulate and superior frontal gyrus volumes, as well as lower fractional anisotropy (FA) for the bilateral occipital lobe, including the visual and the superior frontal cortex. We detected faster rates of volume and FA reduction in AMD participants in the left temporal cortex. We identified inter-lingual and lingual-cerebellar connections as important differentiators in AMD participants. Bundle analyses revealed that the lingual gyrus had a lower streamline length in the AMD participants at the first visit, indicating a connection between retinal and brain health. FA differences in select inter-lingual and lingual cerebellar bundles at the second visit showed downstream effects of vision loss. Our analyses revealed widespread changes in AMD participants, beyond brain networks directly involved in vision processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacques A. Stout
- Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; (J.A.S.); (J.Z.); (D.J.M.)
| | - Ali Mahzarnia
- Radiology Department, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; (A.M.); (R.D.); (R.J.A.)
| | - Rui Dai
- Radiology Department, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; (A.M.); (R.D.); (R.J.A.)
| | - Robert J. Anderson
- Radiology Department, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; (A.M.); (R.D.); (R.J.A.)
| | - Scott Cousins
- Ophthalmology Department, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; (S.C.); (E.M.L.); (D.B.W.); (H.E.W.)
| | - Jie Zhuang
- Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; (J.A.S.); (J.Z.); (D.J.M.)
| | - Eleonora M. Lad
- Ophthalmology Department, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; (S.C.); (E.M.L.); (D.B.W.); (H.E.W.)
| | - Diane B. Whitaker
- Ophthalmology Department, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; (S.C.); (E.M.L.); (D.B.W.); (H.E.W.)
| | - David J. Madden
- Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; (J.A.S.); (J.Z.); (D.J.M.)
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA;
| | - Guy G. Potter
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA;
| | - Heather E. Whitson
- Ophthalmology Department, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; (S.C.); (E.M.L.); (D.B.W.); (H.E.W.)
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical School, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Alexandra Badea
- Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; (J.A.S.); (J.Z.); (D.J.M.)
- Radiology Department, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; (A.M.); (R.D.); (R.J.A.)
- Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
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Romagnoli M, Amore G, Avanzini P, Carelli V, La Morgia C. Chromatic pupillometry for evaluating melanopsin retinal ganglion cell function in Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders: a review. Front Psychol 2024; 14:1295129. [PMID: 38259552 PMCID: PMC10801184 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1295129] [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: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The evaluation of pupillary light reflex (PLR) by chromatic pupillometry may provide a unique insight into specific photoreceptor functions. Chromatic pupillometry refers to evaluating PLR to different wavelengths and intensities of light in order to differentiate outer/inner retinal photoreceptor contributions to the PLR. Different protocols have been tested and are now established to assess in-vivo PLR contribution mediated by melanopsin retinal ganglion cells (mRGCs). These intrinsically photosensitive photoreceptors modulate the non-image-forming functions of the eye, which are mainly the circadian photoentrainment and PLR, via projections to the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic and olivary pretectal nucleus, respectively. In this context, chromatic pupillometry has been used as an alternative and non-invasive tool to evaluate the mRGC system in several clinical settings, including hereditary optic neuropathies, glaucoma, and neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease (PD), idiopathic/isolated rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (iRBD), and Alzheimer's disease (AD). The purpose of this article is to review the key steps of chromatic pupillometry protocols for studying in-vivo mRGC-system functionality and provide the main findings of this technique in the research setting on neurodegeneration. mRGC-dependent pupillary responses are short-wavelength sensitive, have a higher threshold of activation, and are much slower and sustained compared with rod- and cone-mediated responses, driving the tonic component of the PLR during exposure to high-irradiance and continuous light stimulus. Thus, mRGCs contribute mainly to the tonic component of the post-illumination pupil response (PIPR) to bright blue light flash that persists after light stimulation is switched off. Given the role of mRGCs in circadian photoentrainment, the use of chromatic pupillometry to perform a functional evaluation of mRGcs may be proposed as an early biomarker of mRGC-dysfunction in neurodegenerative disorders characterized by circadian and/or sleep dysfunction such as AD, PD, and its prodromal phase iRBD. The evaluation by chromatic pupillometry of mRGC-system functionality may lay the groundwork for a new, easily accessible biomarker that can be exploited also as the starting point for future longitudinal cohort studies aimed at stratifying the risk of conversion in these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Romagnoli
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Programma di Neurogenetica, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giulia Amore
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Neuromotorie, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Valerio Carelli
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Programma di Neurogenetica, Bologna, Italy
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Neuromotorie, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Chiara La Morgia
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Neuromotorie, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, UOC Clinica Neurologica, Bologna, Italy
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Nuñez-Diaz C, Andersson E, Schultz N, Pocevičiūtė D, Hansson O, Nilsson KPR, Wennström M. The fluorescent ligand bTVBT2 reveals increased p-tau uptake by retinal microglia in Alzheimer's disease patients and App NL-F/NL-F mice. Alzheimers Res Ther 2024; 16:4. [PMID: 38167557 PMCID: PMC10763304 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-023-01375-7] [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: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amyloid beta (Aβ) deposits and hyperphosphorylated tau (p-tau) accumulation have been identified in the retina of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and transgenic AD mice. Previous studies have shown that retinal microglia engulf Aβ, but this property decreases in AD patients. Whether retinal microglia also take up p-tau and if this event is affected in AD is yet not described. In the current study, we use the p-tau-specific thiophene-based ligand bTVBT2 to investigate the relationship between disease progression and p-tau uptake by microglia in the retina of AD patients and AppNL-F/NL-F knock-in mice, an AD mouse model known to demonstrate extracellular Aβ plaques and dystrophic neurites in the brain from 6 months of age. METHODS Evaluation of bTVBT2 specificity and its presence within microglia was assessed by immunofluorescent staining of hippocampal sections and flat-mount retina samples from non-demented controls, AD patients, 3-, 9-, and 12-month-old AppNL-F/NL-F knock-in mice and 12- and 18-month-old wild type (WT) mice. We used ImageJ to analyze the amount of bTVBT2 inside Iba1-positive microglia. Co-localization between the ligand and p-tau variant Ser396/Ser404 (PHF-1), Aβ, phosphorylated TAR DNA binding protein 43 (pTDP-43), and islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) in the brain and retina was analyzed using confocal imaging. RESULTS Confocal imaging analysis showed that bTVBT2 binds to PHF-1- and AT8-positive aggregates inside retinal microglia, and not to Aβ, pTDP-43, or IAPP. The density of bTVBT2-positive microglia was higher in cases with a high Aβ load compared to those with a low Aβ load. This density correlated with the neurofibrillary tangle load in the brain, but not with retinal levels of high molecular weight (aggregated) Aβ40 or Aβ42. Analysis of AppNL-F/NL-F knock-in mouse retina further showed that 50% of microglia in 3-month-old AppNL-F/NL-F knock-in mice contained bTVBT2. The percentage significantly increased in 9- and 12-month-old mice. CONCLUSION Our study suggests that the microglial capability to uptake p-tau in the retina persists and intensifies with AD progression. These results also highlight bTVBT2 as a ligand of interest in future monitoring of retinal AD pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Nuñez-Diaz
- Cognitive Disorder Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Emelie Andersson
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Nina Schultz
- Cognitive Disorder Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Dovilė Pocevičiūtė
- Cognitive Disorder Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Oskar Hansson
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
- Memory Clinic, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
| | - K Peter R Nilsson
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology IFM, Linköping University, 581 83, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Malin Wennström
- Cognitive Disorder Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.
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Gao J, Leinonen H, Wang EJ, Ding M, Perry G, Palczewski K, Wang X. Sex-Specific Early Retinal Dysfunction in Mutant TDP-43 Transgenic Mice. J Alzheimers Dis 2024; 97:927-937. [PMID: 38143367 PMCID: PMC11174142 DOI: 10.3233/jad-231102] [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] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increasing evidence has highlighted retinal impairments in neurodegenerative diseases. Dominant mutations in TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and the accumulation of TDP-43 in the cytoplasm is a pathological hallmark of ALS, frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and many other neurodegenerative diseases. OBJECTIVE While homozygous transgenic mice expressing the disease-causing human TDP-43 M337V mutant (TDP-43M337V mice) experience premature death, hemizygous TDP-43M337V mice do not suffer sudden death, but they exhibit age-dependent motor-coordinative and cognitive deficits. This study aims to leverage the hemizygous TDP-43M337V mice as a valuable ALS/FTD disease model for the assessment also of retinal changes during the disease progression. METHODS We evaluated the retinal function of young TDP-43M337V mice by full field electroretinogram (ERG) recordings. RESULTS At 3-4 months of age, well before the onset of brain dysfunction at 8 months, the ERG responses were notably impaired in the retinas of young female TDP-43M337V mice in contrast to their male counterparts and age-matched non-transgenic mice. Mitochondria have been implicated as critical targets of TDP-43. Further investigation revealed that significant changes in the key regulators of mitochondrial dynamics and bioenergetics were only observed in the retinas of young female TDP-43M337V mice, while these alterations were not present in the brains of either gender. CONCLUSIONS Together our findings suggest a sex-specific vulnerability within the retina in the early disease stage, and highlight the importance of retinal changes and mitochondrial markers as potential early diagnostic indicators for ALS, FTD, and other TDP-43 related neurodegenerative conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ju Gao
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Henri Leinonen
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Evan J Wang
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Mao Ding
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - George Perry
- College of Sciences, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Krzysztof Palczewski
- Department of Ophthalmology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, UCI, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Chemistry and Molecular biology and Biochemsitry, UCI, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Xinglong Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
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Alber J, Bouwman F, den Haan J, Rissman RA, De Groef L, Koronyo‐Hamaoui M, Lengyel I, Thal DR. Retina pathology as a target for biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease: Current status, ophthalmopathological background, challenges, and future directions. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:728-740. [PMID: 37917365 PMCID: PMC10917008 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13529] [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: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
There is emerging evidence that amyloid beta protein (Aβ) and tau-related lesions in the retina are associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Aβ and hyperphosphorylated (p)-tau deposits have been described in the retina and were associated with small amyloid spots visualized by in vivo imaging techniques as well as degeneration of the retina. These changes correlate with brain amyloid deposition as determined by histological quantification, positron emission tomography (PET) or clinical diagnosis of AD. However, the literature is not coherent on these histopathological and in vivo imaging findings. One important reason for this is the variability in the methods and the interpretation of findings across different studies. In this perspective, we indicate the critical methodological deviations among different groups and suggest a roadmap moving forward on how to harmonize (i) histopathologic examination of retinal tissue; (ii) in vivo imaging among different methods, devices, and interpretation algorithms; and (iii) inclusion/exclusion criteria for studies aiming at retinal biomarker validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Alber
- George and Anne Ryan Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of Rhode IslandKingstonRhode IslandUSA
- Butler Hospital Memory & Aging ProgramProvidenceRhode IslandUSA
| | - Femke Bouwman
- Amsterdam UMC, location VUmcAlzheimer Center, Department of NeurologyAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Jurre den Haan
- Amsterdam UMC, location VUmcAlzheimer Center, Department of NeurologyAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Robert A. Rissman
- Alzheimer's Therapeutic Research InstituteKeck School of Medicine of the University of Southern CaliforniaSan DiegoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Lies De Groef
- Cellular Communication and Neurodegeneration Research Group, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Division, Department of BiologyLeuven Brain InstituteKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Maya Koronyo‐Hamaoui
- Departments of Neurosurgery, Neurology, and Biomedical SciencesMaxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars‐Sinai Medical CenterLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Imre Lengyel
- The Wellcome‐Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical ScienceQueen's University BelfastBelfastUK
| | - Dietmar Rudolf Thal
- Laboratory of NeuropathologyDepartment of Imaging and Pathology, and Leuven Brain Institute, KU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Department of PathologyUZ LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
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Poudel P, Frost SM, Eslick S, Sohrabi HR, Taddei K, Martins RN, Hone E. Hyperspectral Retinal Imaging as a Non-Invasive Marker to Determine Brain Amyloid Status. J Alzheimers Dis 2024; 100:S131-S152. [PMID: 39121128 DOI: 10.3233/jad-240631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/11/2024]
Abstract
Background As an extension of the central nervous system (CNS), the retina shares many similarities with the brain and can manifest signs of various neurological diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Objective To investigate the retinal spectral features and develop a classification model to differentiate individuals with different brain amyloid levels. Methods Sixty-six participants with varying brain amyloid-β protein levels were non-invasively imaged using a hyperspectral retinal camera in the wavelength range of 450-900 nm in 5 nm steps. Multiple retina features from the central and superior views were selected and analyzed to identify their variability among individuals with different brain amyloid loads. Results The retinal reflectance spectra in the 450-585 nm wavelengths exhibited a significant difference in individuals with increasing brain amyloid. The retinal features in the superior view showed higher inter-subject variability. A classification model was trained to differentiate individuals with varying amyloid levels using the spectra of extracted retinal features. The performance of the spectral classification model was dependent upon retinal features and showed 0.758-0.879 accuracy, 0.718-0.909 sensitivity, 0.764-0.912 specificity, and 0.745-0.891 area under curve for the right eye. Conclusions This study highlights the spectral variation of retinal features associated with brain amyloid loads. It also demonstrates the feasibility of the retinal hyperspectral imaging technique as a potential method to identify individuals in the preclinical phase of AD as an inexpensive alternative to brain imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Purna Poudel
- Alzheimer's Research Australia, Ralph and Patricia Sarich Neuroscience Research Institute, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- Centre of Excellence for Alzheimer's Disease Research and Care, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia
| | - Shaun M Frost
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Kensington, WA, Australia
- Australian e-Health Research Centre, Floreat, WA, Australia
| | - Shaun Eslick
- Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW, Australia
| | - Hamid R Sohrabi
- Alzheimer's Research Australia, Ralph and Patricia Sarich Neuroscience Research Institute, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- Centre for Healthy Ageing, Health Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Kevin Taddei
- Alzheimer's Research Australia, Ralph and Patricia Sarich Neuroscience Research Institute, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- Centre of Excellence for Alzheimer's Disease Research and Care, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia
- Lions Alzheimer's Foundation, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Ralph N Martins
- Alzheimer's Research Australia, Ralph and Patricia Sarich Neuroscience Research Institute, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- Centre of Excellence for Alzheimer's Disease Research and Care, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia
- Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW, Australia
- Lions Alzheimer's Foundation, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Eugene Hone
- Alzheimer's Research Australia, Ralph and Patricia Sarich Neuroscience Research Institute, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- Centre of Excellence for Alzheimer's Disease Research and Care, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia
- Lions Alzheimer's Foundation, Perth, WA, Australia
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Walkiewicz G, Ronisz A, Van Ginderdeuren R, Lemmens S, Bouwman FH, Hoozemans JJM, Morrema THJ, Rozemuller AJ, Hart de Ruyter FJ, De Groef L, Stalmans I, Thal DR. Primary retinal tauopathy: A tauopathy with a distinct molecular pattern. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:330-340. [PMID: 37615275 PMCID: PMC10916964 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Phosphorylated tau (p-tau) accumulation, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD), can also be found in the retina. However, it is uncertain whether it is linked to AD or another tauopathy. METHODS Retinas from 164 individuals, with and without AD, were analyzed for p-tau accumulation and its relationship with age, dementia, and vision impairment. RESULTS Retinal p-tau pathology showed a consistent pattern with four stages and a molecular composition distinct from that of cerebral tauopathies. The stage of retinal p-tau pathology correlated with age (r = 0.176, P = 0.024) and was associated with AD (odds ratio [OR] 3.193; P = 0.001), and inflammation (OR = 2.605; P = 0.001). Vision impairment was associated with underlying eye diseases (β = 0.292; P = 0.001) and the stage of retinal p-tau pathology (β = 0.192; P = 0.030) in a linear regression model. CONCLUSIONS The results show the presence of a primary retinal tauopathy that is distinct from cerebral tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grzegorz Walkiewicz
- Laboratory of NeuropathologyDepartment of Imaging and PathologyLeuven Brain InstituteKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Alicja Ronisz
- Laboratory of NeuropathologyDepartment of Imaging and PathologyLeuven Brain InstituteKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Rita Van Ginderdeuren
- Department of PathologyUZ LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Department of OphthalmologyUZ LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | | | | | | | - Tjado H. J. Morrema
- Amsterdam UMCDepartment of PathologyAmsterdam NeuroscienceAmsterdamthe Netherlands
| | | | - Frederique J. Hart de Ruyter
- Amsterdam UMCAlzheimer CenterNeurologyAmsterdamthe Netherlands
- Amsterdam UMCDepartment of PathologyAmsterdam NeuroscienceAmsterdamthe Netherlands
| | - Lies De Groef
- Cellular Communication and Neurodegeneration Research GroupDepartment of BiologyLeuven Brain InstituteKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Ingeborg Stalmans
- Department of OphthalmologyUZ LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Research Group OphthalmologyDepartment of NeuroscienceLeuven Brain InstituteKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Dietmar Rudolf Thal
- Laboratory of NeuropathologyDepartment of Imaging and PathologyLeuven Brain InstituteKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Department of PathologyUZ LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
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Donato L, Mordà D, Scimone C, Alibrandi S, D’Angelo R, Sidoti A. Bridging Retinal and Cerebral Neurodegeneration: A Focus on Crosslinks between Alzheimer-Perusini's Disease and Retinal Dystrophies. Biomedicines 2023; 11:3258. [PMID: 38137479 PMCID: PMC10741418 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11123258] [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: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
In the early stages of Alzheimer-Perusini's disease (AD), individuals often experience vision-related issues such as color vision impairment, reduced contrast sensitivity, and visual acuity problems. As the disease progresses, there is a connection with glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) leading to retinal cell death. The retina's involvement suggests a link with the hippocampus, where most AD forms start. A thinning of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) due to the loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) is seen as a potential AD diagnostic marker using electroretinography (ERG) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Amyloid beta fragments (Aβ), found in the eye's vitreous and aqueous humor, are also present in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and accumulate in the retina. Aβ is known to cause tau hyperphosphorylation, leading to its buildup in various retinal layers. However, diseases like AD are now seen as mixed proteinopathies, with deposits of the prion protein (PrP) and α-synuclein found in affected brains and retinas. Glial cells, especially microglial cells, play a crucial role in these diseases, maintaining immunoproteostasis. Studies have shown similarities between retinal and brain microglia in terms of transcription factor expression and morphotypes. All these findings constitute a good start to achieving better comprehension of neurodegeneration in both the eye and the brain. New insights will be able to bring the scientific community closer to specific disease-modifying therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Donato
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy; (L.D.); (C.S.); (R.D.); (A.S.)
- Department of Biomolecular Strategies, Genetics, Cutting-Edge Therapies, Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology (I.E.ME.S.T.), 90139 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Domenico Mordà
- Department of Biomolecular Strategies, Genetics, Cutting-Edge Therapies, Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology (I.E.ME.S.T.), 90139 Palermo, Italy;
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy
| | - Concetta Scimone
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy; (L.D.); (C.S.); (R.D.); (A.S.)
- Department of Biomolecular Strategies, Genetics, Cutting-Edge Therapies, Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology (I.E.ME.S.T.), 90139 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Simona Alibrandi
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy; (L.D.); (C.S.); (R.D.); (A.S.)
- Department of Biomolecular Strategies, Genetics, Cutting-Edge Therapies, Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology (I.E.ME.S.T.), 90139 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Rosalia D’Angelo
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy; (L.D.); (C.S.); (R.D.); (A.S.)
| | - Antonina Sidoti
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy; (L.D.); (C.S.); (R.D.); (A.S.)
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Suh A, Ong J, Kamran SA, Waisberg E, Paladugu P, Zaman N, Sarker P, Tavakkoli A, Lee AG. Retina Oculomics in Neurodegenerative Disease. Ann Biomed Eng 2023; 51:2708-2721. [PMID: 37855949 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-023-03365-0] [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: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Ophthalmic biomarkers have long played a critical role in diagnosing and managing ocular diseases. Oculomics has emerged as a field that utilizes ocular imaging biomarkers to provide insights into systemic diseases. Advances in diagnostic and imaging technologies including electroretinography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy, fluorescence lifetime imaging ophthalmoscopy, and OCT angiography have revolutionized the ability to understand systemic diseases and even detect them earlier than clinical manifestations for earlier intervention. With the advent of increasingly large ophthalmic imaging datasets, machine learning models can be integrated into these ocular imaging biomarkers to provide further insights and prognostic predictions of neurodegenerative disease. In this manuscript, we review the use of ophthalmic imaging to provide insights into neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer Disease, Parkinson Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, and Huntington Disease. We discuss recent advances in ophthalmic technology including eye-tracking technology and integration of artificial intelligence techniques to further provide insights into these neurodegenerative diseases. Ultimately, oculomics opens the opportunity to detect and monitor systemic diseases at a higher acuity. Thus, earlier detection of systemic diseases may allow for timely intervention for improving the quality of life in patients with neurodegenerative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Suh
- Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA.
| | - Joshua Ong
- Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Sharif Amit Kamran
- Human-Machine Perception Laboratory, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Ethan Waisberg
- University College Dublin School of Medicine, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Phani Paladugu
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Nasif Zaman
- Human-Machine Perception Laboratory, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Prithul Sarker
- Human-Machine Perception Laboratory, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Alireza Tavakkoli
- Human-Machine Perception Laboratory, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Andrew G Lee
- Center for Space Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Blanton Eye Institute, Houston Methodist Hospital, 6560 Fannin St #450, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- The Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
- Departments of Ophthalmology, Neurology and Neurosurgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Texas A&M College of Medicine, Bryan, TX, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA
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Boccaccini A, Cavaterra D, Carnevale C, Tanga L, Marini S, Bocedi A, Lacal PM, Manni G, Graziani G, Sbardella D, Tundo GR. Novel frontiers in neuroprotective therapies in glaucoma: Molecular and clinical aspects. Mol Aspects Med 2023; 94:101225. [PMID: 38000334 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2023.101225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
In the last years, neuroprotective therapies have attracted the researcher interests as modern and challenging approach for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, aimed at protecting the nervous system from injuries. Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive excavation of the optic nerve head, retinal axonal injury and corresponding vision loss that affects millions of people on a global scale. The molecular basis of the pathology is largely uncharacterized yet, and the therapeutic approaches available do not change the natural course of the disease. Therefore, in accordance with the therapeutic regimens proposed for other neurodegenerative diseases, a modern strategy to treat glaucoma includes prescription of drugs with neuroprotective activities. With respect to this, several preclinical and clinical investigations on a plethora of different drugs are currently ongoing. In this review, first, the conceptualization of the rationale for the adoption of neuroprotective strategies for retina is summarized. Second, the molecular aspects highlighting glaucoma as a neurodegenerative disease are reported. In conclusion, the molecular and pharmacological properties of most promising direct neuroprotective drugs used to delay glaucoma progression are examined, including: neurotrophic factors, NMDA receptor antagonists, the α2-adrenergic agonist, brimonidine, calcium channel blockers, antioxidant agents, nicotinamide and statins.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dario Cavaterra
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università di Tor Vergata, Via Della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Stefano Marini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e Medicina Traslazionale, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier n. 1, 00133, Roma, Italy
| | - Alessio Bocedi
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università di Tor Vergata, Via Della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Pedro M Lacal
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, IDI-IRCCS, Via Monti di Creta 104, 00167, Rome, Italy
| | - Gianluca Manni
- IRCCS - Fondazione Bietti, Rome, Italy; Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e Medicina Traslazionale, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier n. 1, 00133, Roma, Italy
| | - Grazia Graziani
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier, 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Grazia Raffaella Tundo
- Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e Medicina Traslazionale, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier n. 1, 00133, Roma, Italy.
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Shen L, Tang X, Zhang H, Zhuang H, Lin J, Zhao Y, Liu X. Targeted Metabolomic Analysis of the Eye Tissue of Triple Transgenic Alzheimer's Disease Mice at an Early Pathological Stage. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:7309-7328. [PMID: 37553545 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03533-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a severe neurodegenerative disease in older people. Despite some consensus on pathogenesis of AD established by previous researches, further elucidation is still required for better understanding. This study analyzed the eye tissues of 2- and 6-month-old triple transgenic AD (3 × Tg-AD) male mice and age-sex-matched wild-type (WT) mice using a targeted metabolomics approach. Compared with WT mice, 20 and 44 differential metabolites were identified in 2- and 6-month-old AD mice, respectively. They were associated with purine metabolism, pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis, pyruvate metabolism, lysine degradation, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, and pyrimidine metabolism pathways. Among them, 8 metabolites presented differences in both the two groups, and 5 of them showed constant trend of change. The results indicated that the eye tissues of 3 × Tg-AD mice underwent changes in the early stages of the disease, with changes in metabolites observed at 2 months of age and more pronounced at 6 months of age, which is consistent with our previous studies on hippocampal targeted metabolomics in 3 × Tg-AD mice. Therefore, a joint analysis of data from this study and previous hippocampal study was performed, and the differential metabolites and their associated mechanisms were similar in eye and hippocampal tissues, but with tissue specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liming Shen
- College of Life Science and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Xueyuan Ave 1688, Shenzhen, 518060, People's Republic of China
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, People's Republic of China
- Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, 518055, People's Republic of China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine, Biotechnology, and Ecology, Shenzhen, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoxiao Tang
- College of Life Science and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Xueyuan Ave 1688, Shenzhen, 518060, People's Republic of China
| | - Huajie Zhang
- College of Life Science and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Xueyuan Ave 1688, Shenzhen, 518060, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongbin Zhuang
- College of Life Science and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Xueyuan Ave 1688, Shenzhen, 518060, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Lin
- College of Life Science and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Xueyuan Ave 1688, Shenzhen, 518060, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuxi Zhao
- College of Life Science and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Xueyuan Ave 1688, Shenzhen, 518060, People's Republic of China
| | - Xukun Liu
- College of Life Science and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Xueyuan Ave 1688, Shenzhen, 518060, People's Republic of China.
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Li C, Zhu X, Yang K, Ju Y, Shi K, Xiao Y, Su B, Lu F, Cui L, Li M. Relationship of retinal capillary plexus and ganglion cell complex with mild cognitive impairment and dementia. Eye (Lond) 2023; 37:3743-3750. [PMID: 37270614 PMCID: PMC10698172 DOI: 10.1038/s41433-023-02592-y] [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: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/05/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate relationship of the retinal capillary plexus (RCP) and ganglion cell complex (GCC) with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia in a community-based study1. METHODS This cross-sectional study incorporated the participants of the Jidong Eye Cohort Study. Optical coherence tomography angiography was performed to obtain RCP vessel density and GCC thickness with detailed segments. The Mini-mental State Examination and Montreal Cognitive Assessment were used to assess cognitive status by professional neuropsychologists. Participants were thus divided into three groups: normal, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia. Multivariable analysis was used to measure relationship of ocular parameters with cognitive impairment. RESULTS Of the 2678 participants, the mean age was 44.1 ± 11.7 years. MCI and dementia occurred in 197 (7.4%) and 80 (3%) participants, respectively. Compared to the normal group, the adjusted odds ratio (OR) with the 95% confidence interval was 0.76 (0.65-0.90) for the correlation of lower deep RCP with MCI. We found the following items significantly associated with dementia compared with the normal group: a superficial (OR, 0.68 [0.54-0.86]) and deep (OR, 0.75 [0.57-0.99]) RCP, as well as the GCC (OR, 0.68 [0.54-0.85]). Compared to the MCI group, those with dementia had decreased GCC (OR, 0.75 [0.58-0.97]). CONCLUSIONS Decreased deep RCP density was associated with MCI. Decreased superficial and deep RCP and the thin GCC were correlated with dementia. These implied that the retinal microvasculature may develop into a promising non-invasive imaging marker to predict severity of cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunmei Li
- National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
| | - Xiaoxuan Zhu
- National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
| | - Kai Yang
- National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
| | - Ying Ju
- National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
| | - Keai Shi
- National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
| | - Yunfan Xiao
- National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
| | - Binbin Su
- National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
| | - Fan Lu
- National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China.
- National Engineering Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China.
| | - Lele Cui
- National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China.
- National Engineering Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China.
| | - Ming Li
- National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China.
- National Engineering Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China.
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Wang R, Wu X, Zhang Z, Cao L, Kwapong WR, Wang H, Tao W, Ye C, Liu J, Wu B. Retinal ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer, white matter hyperintensities, and their interaction with cognition in older adults. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1240815. [PMID: 38035269 PMCID: PMC10685347 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1240815] [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: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose We explored the interaction of optical coherence tomography (OCT) parameters and white matter hyperintensities with cognitive measures in our older adult cohort. Methods This observational study enrolled participants who underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological battery, structural 3-T brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), visual acuity examination, and OCT imaging. Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) markers were read on MR images; lacune, cerebral microbleeds (CMB), white matter hyperintensities (WMH), and enlarged perivascular spaces (EPVS), were defined according to the STRIVE standards. Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thicknesses (μm) were measured on the OCT tool. Results Older adults with cognitive impairment (CI) showed lower RNFL (p = 0.001), GCIPL (p = 0.009) thicknesses, and lower hippocampal volume (p = 0.004) when compared to non-cognitively impaired (NCI). RNFL (p = 0.006) and GCIPL thicknesses (p = 0.032) correlated with MoCA scores. GCIPL thickness (p = 0.037), total WMH (p = 0.003), PWMH (p = 0.041), and DWMH (p = 0.001) correlated with hippocampal volume in our older adults after adjusting for covariates. With hippocampal volume as the outcome, a significant interaction (p < 0.05) between GCIPL and PWMH and total WMH was observed in our older adults. Conclusion Both GCIPL thinning and higher WMH burden (especially PWMH) are associated with hippocampal volume and older adults with both pathologies are more susceptible to subclinical cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruilin Wang
- Ophthalmology Department, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xinmao Wu
- Neurology Department, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zengyi Zhang
- Neurology Department, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Le Cao
- Ophthalmology Department, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | | | - Hang Wang
- Neurology Department, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Wendan Tao
- Neurology Department, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Chen Ye
- Neurology Department, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Junfeng Liu
- Neurology Department, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Bo Wu
- Neurology Department, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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Adhikari S, Qiao Y, Singer M, Sagare A, Jiang X, Shi Y, Ringman JM, Kashani AH. Retinotopic degeneration of the retina and optic tracts in autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Dement 2023; 19:5103-5113. [PMID: 37102308 PMCID: PMC10603214 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13100] [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: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION We investigated the correlation between retinal thickness and optic tract integrity in subjects with autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease (ADAD) causing mutations. METHODS Retinal thicknesses and diffusion tensor images (DTI) were obtained using optical coherence tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, respectively. The association between retinal thickness and DTI measures was adjusted for age, sex, retinotopy, and correlation between eyes. RESULTS Optic tract mean diffusivity and axial diffusivity were negatively correlated with retinotopically defined ganglion cell inner plexiform thickness (GCIPL). Fractional anisotropy was negatively correlated with retinotopically defined retinal nerve fiber layer thickness. There was no correlation between outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness and any DTI measure. DISCUSSION In ADAD, GCIPL thickness is significantly associated with retinotopic optic tract DTI measures even in minimally symptomatic subjects. Similar associations were not present with ONL thickness or when ignoring retinotopy. We provide in vivo evidence for optic tract changes resulting from ganglion cell pathology in ADAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suman Adhikari
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Yuchuan Qiao
- Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Maxwell Singer
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Abhay Sagare
- Zilkha Neurogenetics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Neurology, Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Xuejuan Jiang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Yonggang Shi
- Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - John M Ringman
- Department of Neurology, Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Amir H Kashani
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Shi H, Koronyo Y, Fuchs DT, Sheyn J, Jallow O, Mandalia K, Graham SL, Gupta VK, Mirzaei M, Kramerov AA, Ljubimov AV, Hawes D, Miller CA, Black KL, Carare RO, Koronyo-Hamaoui M. Retinal arterial Aβ 40 deposition is linked with tight junction loss and cerebral amyloid angiopathy in MCI and AD patients. Alzheimers Dement 2023; 19:5185-5197. [PMID: 37166032 PMCID: PMC10638467 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Vascular amyloid beta (Aβ) protein deposits were detected in retinas of mild cognitively impaired (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. We tested the hypothesis that the retinal vascular tight junctions (TJs) were compromised and linked to disease status. METHODS TJ components and Aβ expression in capillaries and larger blood vessels were determined in post mortem retinas from 34 MCI or AD patients and 27 cognitively normal controls and correlated with neuropathology. RESULTS Severe decreases in retinal vascular zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and claudin-5 correlating with abundant arteriolar Aβ40 deposition were identified in MCI and AD patients. Retinal claudin-5 deficiency was closely associated with cerebral amyloid angiopathy, whereas ZO-1 defects correlated with cerebral pathology and cognitive deficits. DISCUSSION We uncovered deficiencies in blood-retinal barrier markers for potential retinal imaging targets of AD screening and monitoring. Intense retinal arteriolar Aβ40 deposition suggests a common pathogenic mechanism of failed Aβ clearance via intramural periarterial drainage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoshen Shi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Yosef Koronyo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Dieu-Trang Fuchs
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Julia Sheyn
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Ousman Jallow
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Krishna Mandalia
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Stuart L. Graham
- Macquarie Medical school, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Vivek K. Gupta
- Macquarie Medical school, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Mehdi Mirzaei
- Macquarie Medical school, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Andrei A. Kramerov
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Eye Program, Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Alexander V. Ljubimov
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Eye Program, Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Applied Cell Biology and Physiology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Debra Hawes
- Department of Pathology Program in Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Carol A. Miller
- Department of Pathology Program in Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Keith L. Black
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Roxana O. Carare
- Department of Clinical Neuroanatomy, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Maya Koronyo-Hamaoui
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Applied Cell Biology and Physiology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
- Department of Neurology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
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García-Bermúdez MY, Vohra R, Freude K, van Wijngaarden P, Martin K, Thomsen MS, Aldana BI, Kolko M. Potential Retinal Biomarkers in Alzheimer's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15834. [PMID: 37958816 PMCID: PMC10649108 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115834] [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: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) represents a major diagnostic challenge, as early detection is crucial for effective intervention. This review examines the diagnostic challenges facing current AD evaluations and explores the emerging field of retinal alterations as early indicators. Recognizing the potential of the retina as a noninvasive window to the brain, we emphasize the importance of identifying retinal biomarkers in the early stages of AD. However, the examination of AD is not without its challenges, as the similarities shared with other retinal diseases introduce complexity in the search for AD-specific markers. In this review, we address the relevance of using the retina for the early diagnosis of AD and the complex challenges associated with the search for AD-specific retinal biomarkers. We provide a comprehensive overview of the current landscape and highlight avenues for progress in AD diagnosis by retinal examination.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rupali Vohra
- Eye Translational Research Unit, Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Ophthalmology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, 2600 Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Kristine Freude
- Group of Stem Cell Models and Embryology, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Peter van Wijngaarden
- Center for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, VIC 3002, Australia
- Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Keith Martin
- Center for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, VIC 3002, Australia
- Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Maj Schneider Thomsen
- Neurobiology Research and Drug Delivery, Department of Health, Science and Technology, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Blanca Irene Aldana
- Neurometabolism Research Group, Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Miriam Kolko
- Eye Translational Research Unit, Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Ophthalmology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, 2600 Glostrup, Denmark
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Carrero L, Antequera D, Alcalde I, Megias D, Ordoñez-Gutierrez L, Gutierrez C, Merayo-Lloves J, Wandosell F, Municio C, Carro E. Altered Clock Gene Expression in Female APP/PS1 Mice and Aquaporin-Dependent Amyloid Accumulation in the Retina. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15679. [PMID: 37958666 PMCID: PMC10648501 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115679] [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: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most prevalent form of dementia, is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by different pathological symptomatology, including disrupted circadian rhythm. The regulation of circadian rhythm depends on the light information that is projected from the retina to the suprachiasmatic nucleus in the hypothalamus. Studies of AD patients and AD transgenic mice have revealed AD retinal pathology, including amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation that can directly interfere with the regulation of the circadian cycle. Although the cause of AD pathology is poorly understood, one of the main risk factors for AD is female gender. Here, we found that female APP/PS1 mice at 6- and 12-months old display severe circadian rhythm disturbances and retinal pathological hallmarks, including Aβ deposits in retinal layers. Since brain Aβ transport is facilitated by aquaporin (AQP)4, the expression of AQPs were also explored in APP/PS1 retina to investigate a potential correlation between retinal Aβ deposits and AQPs expression. Important reductions in AQP1, AQP4, and AQP5 were detected in the retinal tissue of these transgenic mice, mainly at 6-months of age. Taken together, our findings suggest that abnormal transport of Aβ, mediated by impaired AQPs expression, contributes to the retinal degeneration in the early stages of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Carrero
- Neurobiology of Alzheimer’s Disease Unit, Functional Unit for Research into Chronic Diseases, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Network Centre for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), ISCIII, 28029 Madrid, Spain; (L.C.); (D.A.); (C.G.)
- PhD Program in Neuroscience, Autonoma de Madrid University, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Desireé Antequera
- Neurobiology of Alzheimer’s Disease Unit, Functional Unit for Research into Chronic Diseases, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Network Centre for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), ISCIII, 28029 Madrid, Spain; (L.C.); (D.A.); (C.G.)
| | - Ignacio Alcalde
- Instituto Universitario Fernández-Vega, Universidad de Oviedo, Fundación de Investigación Oftalmológica, 28012 Oviedo, Spain; (I.A.); (J.M.-L.)
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), 33011 Oviedo, Spain
| | - Diego Megias
- Advanced Optical Microscopy Unit, Unidades Centrales Científico-Técnicas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28222 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Lara Ordoñez-Gutierrez
- Centro de Biología Molecular “Severo Ochoa” (CSIC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Network Centre for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), ISCIII, 28029 Madrid, Spain; (L.O.-G.); (F.W.)
| | - Cristina Gutierrez
- Neurobiology of Alzheimer’s Disease Unit, Functional Unit for Research into Chronic Diseases, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Network Centre for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), ISCIII, 28029 Madrid, Spain; (L.C.); (D.A.); (C.G.)
| | - Jesús Merayo-Lloves
- Instituto Universitario Fernández-Vega, Universidad de Oviedo, Fundación de Investigación Oftalmológica, 28012 Oviedo, Spain; (I.A.); (J.M.-L.)
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), 33011 Oviedo, Spain
| | - Francisco Wandosell
- Centro de Biología Molecular “Severo Ochoa” (CSIC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Network Centre for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), ISCIII, 28029 Madrid, Spain; (L.O.-G.); (F.W.)
| | - Cristina Municio
- Neurobiology of Alzheimer’s Disease Unit, Functional Unit for Research into Chronic Diseases, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Network Centre for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), ISCIII, 28029 Madrid, Spain; (L.C.); (D.A.); (C.G.)
| | - Eva Carro
- Neurobiology of Alzheimer’s Disease Unit, Functional Unit for Research into Chronic Diseases, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Network Centre for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), ISCIII, 28029 Madrid, Spain; (L.C.); (D.A.); (C.G.)
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Arthur E, Ravichandran S, Snyder PJ, Alber J, Strenger J, Bittner AK, Khankan R, Adams SL, Putnam NM, Lypka KR, Piantino JA, Sinoff S. Retinal mid-peripheral capillary free zones are enlarged in cognitively unimpaired older adults at high risk for Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Res Ther 2023; 15:172. [PMID: 37828548 PMCID: PMC10568786 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-023-01312-8] [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: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Compared to standard neuro-diagnostic techniques, retinal biomarkers provide a probable low-cost and non-invasive alternative for early Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk screening. We have previously quantified the periarteriole and perivenule capillary free zones (mid-peripheral CFZs) in cognitively unimpaired (CU) young and older adults as novel metrics of retinal tissue oxygenation. There is a breakdown of the inner retinal blood barrier, pericyte loss, and capillary non-perfusion or dropout in AD leading to potential enlargement of the mid-peripheral CFZs. We hypothesized the mid-peripheral CFZs will be enlarged in CU older adults at high risk for AD compared to low-risk individuals. METHODS 20 × 20° optical coherence tomography angiography images consisting of 512 b-scans, 512 A-scans per b-scan, 12-µm spacing between b-scans, and 5 frames averaged per each b-scan location of the central fovea and of paired major arterioles and venules with their surrounding capillaries inferior to the fovea of 57 eyes of 37 CU low-risk (mean age: 66 years) and 50 eyes of 38 CU high-risk older adults (mean age: 64 years; p = 0.24) were involved in this study. High-risk participants were defined as having at least one APOE e4 allele and a positive first-degree family history of AD while low-risk participants had neither of the two criteria. All participants had Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores ≥ 26. The mid-peripheral CFZs were computed in MATLAB and compared between the two groups. RESULTS The periarteriole CFZ of the high-risk group (75.8 ± 9.19 µm) was significantly larger than that of the low-risk group (71.3 ± 7.07 µm), p = 0.005, Cohen's d = 0.55. The perivenule CFZ of the high-risk group (60.4 ± 8.55 µm) was also significantly larger than that of the low-risk group (57.3 ± 6.40 µm), p = 0.034, Cohen's d = 0.42. There were no significant differences in foveal avascular zone (FAZ) size, FAZ effective diameter, and vessel density between the two groups, all p > 0.05. CONCLUSIONS Our results show larger mid-peripheral CFZs in CU older adults at high risk for AD, with the potential for the periarteriole CFZ to serve as a novel retinal vascular biomarker for early AD risk detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edmund Arthur
- School of Optometry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
| | - Swetha Ravichandran
- School of Optometry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Peter J Snyder
- Department of Neurology, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | - Jessica Alber
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
- George and Anne Ryan Institute for Neuroscience, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
- Butler Hospital Memory & Aging Program, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Jennifer Strenger
- Butler Hospital Memory & Aging Program, Providence, RI, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Ava K Bittner
- Department of Ophthalmology, Stein Eye Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Rima Khankan
- Southern California College of Optometry, Marshall B. Ketchum University, Fullerton, CA, USA
| | | | - Nicole M Putnam
- State University of New York College of Optometry, New York, NY, USA
| | - Karin R Lypka
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Juan A Piantino
- Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
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