Early-Stage Alzheimer's Disease Does Not Alter Pupil Responses to Colored Light Stimuli

Pathologic changes in cerebral and retinal structures governing the pupillary light reflex occur in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Analysis of pupillary responses originating from different retinal cells may allow for non-invasive detection of cerebral AD pathology.

This study aimed to quantify the pupil light reflex using a portable chromatic pupillometer in patients with early stage AD and compare their responses to those of a healthy control group.

Participants in this case-control pilot study were recruited from a well-characterized cohort of elderly people participating in a larger prospective study on early AD. Cognitive testing, volumetric brain imaging, and lumbar puncture were performed in all participants to define two groups: early AD, i.e., cognitively impaired subjects with biomarker-confirmed AD pathology, and control group of subjects with normal cognition and normal CSF biomarker profile. Pupil responses to red and blue light stimuli intended to activate cone photoreceptors and melanopsin ganglion cells were recorded under photopic conditions.

Sixteen patients with AD (mean age 77 years) and sixteen controls (mean age 71 years) were tested. Baseline pupil size was significantly smaller in AD patients. Pupillary contraction amplitude to all red and blue lights was also smaller in AD patients but did not reach statistical significance. The post-illumination pupillary response was the same between the two groups.

Compared to healthy controls, we found only a smaller resting size of the pupil in patients with early AD. The pupillary dynamics to light stimulation remained relatively preserved.