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Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Using Retinal Imaging to Study Dementia
Published on: November 6, 2017
Retinal abnormalities in early Alzheimer's disease.
Fatmire Berisha1, Gilbert T Feke, Clement L Trempe
1Schepens Retina Associates Foundation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA.
Early Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is linked to retinal changes, including thinner retinal nerve fiber layers (RNFL) and reduced blood flow in retinal veins. These findings suggest quantifiable retinal abnormalities in AD patients.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neurology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is associated with visual disturbances, potentially stemming from retinal and optic nerve pathology or higher cortical impairments.
- Understanding these early retinal changes can aid in diagnosis and monitoring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate retinal hemodynamic parameters in early Alzheimer's Disease (AD).
- To characterize patterns of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) loss in patients with early AD.
Main Methods:
- A prospective cross-sectional study included nine patients with mild to moderate AD and eight age-matched controls.
- Laser Doppler velocimetry measured retinal venous blood flow parameters (diameter, velocity, flow rate).
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT) assessed peripapillary RNFL thickness.
Main Results:
- Patients with AD exhibited significantly narrower retinal venous blood columns and reduced blood flow rates compared to controls.
- A significant thinning of the RNFL was observed in the superior quadrant of AD patients.
- No significant differences in RNFL thickness were found in other quadrants.
Conclusions:
- Early AD is characterized by specific retinal abnormalities, including RNFL loss in the superior quadrant.
- Narrower retinal veins and decreased retinal blood flow are quantifiable findings in early AD.
- These results demonstrate that AD causes measurable changes within the retina.
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