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Esser EL, Lahme L, Dierse S, Diener R, Eter N, Wiendl H, Duning T, Pawlowski M, Krämer J, Alnawaiseh M. Quantitative Analysis of Retinal Perfusion in Patients with Frontotemporal Dementia Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography. Diagnostics (Basel) 2024; 14:211. [PMID: 38248087 PMCID: PMC10814824 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14020211] [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: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) provides detailed visualization of the perfusion of the vascular network of the eye. While in other forms of dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment, reduced retinal perfusion was frequently reported, data of patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are lacking. OBJECTIVE Retinal and optic nerve head perfusion was evaluated in patients with FTD with OCT-A. Quantitative OCT-A metrics were analyzed and correlated with clinical markers and vascular cerebral lesions in FTD patients. METHODS OCT-A was performed in 18 eyes of 18 patients with FTD and 18 eyes of 18 healthy participants using RTVue XR Avanti with AngioVue. In addition, patients underwent a detailed ophthalmological, neurological, and neuropsychological examination, cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and lumbar puncture. RESULTS The flow density in the optic nerve head (ONH) and in the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) of the macula of patients was significantly lower compared to that of healthy controls (p < 0.001). Similarly, the VD in the deep capillary plexus (DCP) of the macula of patients was significantly lower compared to that of healthy controls (p < 0.001). There was no significant correlation between the flow density data, white matter lesions in brain MRI, cognitive deficits, and cerebrospinal fluid markers of dementia. CONCLUSIONS Patients with FTD showed a reduced flow density in the ONH, and in the superficial and deep retinal capillary plexus of the macula, when compared with that of healthy controls. Quantitative analyses of retinal perfusion using OCT-A may therefore help in the diagnosis and monitoring of FTD. Larger and longitudinal studies are necessary to evaluate if OCT-A is a suitable biomarker for patients with FTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliane Luisa Esser
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Münster, Albert- Schweitzer-Campus 1, Building D15, 48149 Münster, Germany (M.A.)
| | - Larissa Lahme
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Münster, Albert- Schweitzer-Campus 1, Building D15, 48149 Münster, Germany (M.A.)
| | - Sebastian Dierse
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Münster, Albert- Schweitzer-Campus 1, Building D15, 48149 Münster, Germany (M.A.)
| | - Raphael Diener
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Münster, Albert- Schweitzer-Campus 1, Building D15, 48149 Münster, Germany (M.A.)
| | - Nicole Eter
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Münster, Albert- Schweitzer-Campus 1, Building D15, 48149 Münster, Germany (M.A.)
| | - Heinz Wiendl
- Department of Neurology with Institute of Translational Neurology, University Hospital Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, Building A1, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Thomas Duning
- Department of Neurology, Klinikum Bremen-Ost, 28325 Bremen, Germany
| | - Matthias Pawlowski
- Department of Neurology with Institute of Translational Neurology, University Hospital Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, Building A1, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Julia Krämer
- Department of Neurology with Institute of Translational Neurology, University Hospital Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, Building A1, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Maged Alnawaiseh
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Münster, Albert- Schweitzer-Campus 1, Building D15, 48149 Münster, Germany (M.A.)
- Department of Ophthalmology, Klinikum Bielefeld, 33604 Bielefeld, Germany
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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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Kim BJ, Grossman M, Aleman TS, Song D, Cousins KAQ, McMillan CT, Saludades A, Yu Y, Lee EB, Wolk D, Van Deerlin VM, Shaw LM, Ying GS, Irwin DJ. Retinal photoreceptor layer thickness has disease specificity and distinguishes predicted FTLD-Tau from biomarker-determined Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiol Aging 2023; 125:74-82. [PMID: 36857870 PMCID: PMC10038934 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2023.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
While Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with inner retina thinning (retinal nerve fiber layer and ganglion cell layer), we have observed photoreceptor outer nuclear layer (ONL) thinning in patients with frontotemporal lobar degeneration tauopathy (FTLD-Tau) compared to normal controls. We hypothesized that ONL thinning may distinguish FTLD-Tau from patients with biomarker evidence of AD neuropathologic change (ADNC) and will correlate with FTLD-Tau disease severity. Predicted FTLD-Tau (pFTLD-Tau; n = 21; 33 eyes) and predicted ADNC (pADNC; n = 24; 46 eyes) patients were consecutively enrolled, underwent optical coherence tomography macula imaging, and disease was categorized (pFTLD-Tau vs. pADNC) with cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers, genetic testing, and autopsy data when available. Adjusting for age, sex, and race, pFTLD-Tau patients had a thinner ONL compared to pADNC, while retinal nerve fiber layer and ganglion cell layer were not significantly different. Reduced ONL thickness correlated with worse performance on Folstein Mini-Mental State Examination and clinical dementia rating plus frontotemporal dementia sum of boxes for pFTLD-Tau but not pADNC. Photoreceptor ONL thickness may serve as an important noninvasive diagnostic marker that distinguishes FTLD-Tau from AD neuropathologic change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin J Kim
- Department of Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Murray Grossman
- Department of Neurology, Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Tomas S Aleman
- Department of Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Delu Song
- Department of Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Katheryn A Q Cousins
- Department of Neurology, Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Corey T McMillan
- Department of Neurology, Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Adrienne Saludades
- Department of Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Yinxi Yu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Edward B Lee
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Translational Neuropathology Research Laboratory, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Institute on Aging, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - David Wolk
- Department of Neurology, Penn Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Institute on Aging, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Vivianna M Van Deerlin
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Leslie M Shaw
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Gui-Shuang Ying
- Department of Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - David J Irwin
- Department of Neurology, Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Hussain A, Sheikh Z, Subramanian M. The Eye as a Diagnostic Tool for Alzheimer’s Disease. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:life13030726. [PMID: 36983883 PMCID: PMC10052959 DOI: 10.3390/life13030726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder impacting cognition, function, and behavior in the elderly population. While there are currently no disease-modifying agents capable of curing AD, early diagnosis and management in the preclinical stage can significantly improve patient morbidity and life expectancy. Currently, the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is a clinical one, often supplemented by invasive and expensive biomarker testing. Over the last decade, significant advancements have been made in our understanding of AD and the role of ocular tissue as a potential biomarker. Ocular biomarkers hold the potential to provide noninvasive and easily accessible diagnostic and monitoring capabilities. This review summarizes current research for detecting biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease in ocular tissue.
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Huntington’s disease and neurovascular structure of retina. Neurol Sci 2022; 43:5933-5941. [DOI: 10.1007/s10072-022-06232-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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Christinaki E, Kulenovic H, Hadoux X, Baldassini N, Van Eijgen J, De Groef L, Stalmans I, van Wijngaarden P. Retinal imaging biomarkers of neurodegenerative diseases. Clin Exp Optom 2022; 105:194-204. [PMID: 34751086 DOI: 10.1080/08164622.2021.1984179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The timely detection of neurodegenerative diseases is central to improving clinical care as well as enabling the development and deployment of disease-modifying therapies. Retinal imaging is emerging as a method to detect features of a number of neurodegenerative diseases, given the anatomical and functional similarities between the retina and the brain. This review provides an overview of the current status of retinal imaging biomarkers of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, Huntington's disease and multiple sclerosis. Whilst research findings are promising, efforts to harmonise study designs and imaging methods will be important in translating these findings into clinical care. Doing so may mean that eye care providers will play important roles in the detection of a variety of neurodegenerative diseases in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eirini Christinaki
- Research Group Ophthalmology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hana Kulenovic
- Research Group Ophthalmology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Xavier Hadoux
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Australia
| | - Nicole Baldassini
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Australia
| | - Jan Van Eijgen
- Research Group Ophthalmology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lies De Groef
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Department of Biology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium.,Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ingeborg Stalmans
- Research Group Ophthalmology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Department of Biology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Peter van Wijngaarden
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Australia.,Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
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