Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 18, 2026
09:17
Using Retinal Imaging to Study Dementia
Published on: November 6, 2017
22.2K
Visual Function in Alzheimer's Disease: Current Understanding and Potential Mechanisms Behind Visual Impairment
Tania Alvite-Piñeiro1,2, Maite López-López1,2, Uxía Regueiro1,2
1Corneal Neurodegeneration Group (RENOIR), Clinical Neurosciences Research Laboratory (LINC), Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Journal of Clinical Medicine
|September 13, 2025
Summary
Alzheimer's disease (AD) affects vision through retinal and cortical changes. Assessing visual function may aid in diagnosing AD and predicting its progression, improving patient quality of life.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neurology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a leading cause of dementia.
- The eye serves as a potential indicator of neurological disorders due to its connection with the brain.
- Ocular research in AD is gaining significance, revealing changes in various eye structures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and analyze current evidence on visual impairments in Alzheimer's disease.
- To explore the underlying mechanisms of these visual dysfunctions.
- To assess the potential of visual function as a diagnostic or prognostic tool for AD.
Main Methods:
- This study is a narrative review.
- It critically examines existing evidence on ocular alterations in AD patients.
- It explores the correlation between visual parameters and cognitive status.
Main Results:
- Decreased visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and color vision are linked to retinal ganglion cell damage.
- Altered visual fields, ocular motility, and perception result from cortical changes.
- Visual function parameters often correlate with patients' cognitive status.
Conclusions:
- Visual impairments are significant in Alzheimer's disease, affecting the retina and visual cortex.
- Preserving visual function is crucial for maintaining patients' quality of life.
- Visual function assessment shows promise for AD diagnosis and progression prediction.
Keywords:
Alzheimer’s diseasebraincolor visioncontrast sensitivityocular motilityperceptionretinavisual acuityvisual fieldvisual pathwaysMore Related Videos
07:12Development of a Gaze-Contingent Display Framework Designed for Perceptual and Oculomotor Research with Simulated Central Vision Loss
Published on: April 11, 2025
879
12:48In Vivo Dynamics of Retinal Microglial Activation During Neurodegeneration: Confocal Ophthalmoscopic Imaging and Cell Morphometry in Mouse Glaucoma
Published on: May 11, 2015
11.1K
Related Concept Videos
01:26Alzheimer's Disease: Overview
1.6K
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a continually advancing neurodegenerative disorder, distinguished by escalating memory loss, cognitive dysfunction, and dementia. The disease unfolds in three stages: preclinical, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia. Its onset is insidious, and the progression gradual, with the cause not well explained by other disorders.
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ...
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ...
1.6K
01:22Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways
8.8K
At the molecular level, visual signals trigger transformations in photopigment molecules, resulting in changes in the photoreceptor cell's membrane potential. The photon's energy level is denoted by its wavelength, with each specific wavelength of visible light associated with a distinct color. The spectral range of visible light, classified as electromagnetic radiation, spans from 380 to 720 nm. Electromagnetic radiation wavelengths exceeding 720 nm fall under the infrared category,...
8.8K
01:12Visual Agnosia
981
Visual agnosia is a condition characterized by the inability to recognize visually presented objects despite having normal vision. For instance, a person with visual agnosia can describe the shape and color of an object but cannot identify or name it. This impairment does not affect their visual field, acuity, color vision, brightness discrimination, language, or memory. An example of this condition in a social setting is someone at a dinner party asking for "that silver thing with a round...
981
01:22Alzheimer's Disease: Treatment
825
Alzheimer's Disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disorder, is pathologically identified by amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles composed of tau protein. AD pharmacotherapy aims to manage cognitive symptoms, delay disease progression, and treat behavioral symptoms. The treatment is primarily symptomatic and palliative, with no definitive disease-modifying therapy available. Cholinesterase inhibitors, including donepezil (Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon), and galantamine (Razadyne), are...
825
01:24Prosopagnosia
703
Prosopagnosia, also known as face blindness, is the inability to recognize faces. In severe cases, individuals with prosopagnosia may not recognize close family members, including parents and spouses, by their faces. For instance, someone with prosopagnosia might walk past their child in a crowd, only realizing their mistake upon noticing their child's distinctive backpack or favorite jacket. Prosopagnosia specifically impairs facial recognition, while the recognition of other objects or...
703
01:26Visual System
1.7K
Light enters the eye through the cornea, a transparent, dome-shaped surface covering the surface of the eyeball that helps to direct and focus incoming light. This light is then channeled toward the pupil, an adjustable opening whose size is controlled by the iris. The iris, a pigmented muscle, regulates the amount of light entering the eye by contracting or dilating the pupil, thereby ensuring optimal light levels for clear vision.
Once through the pupil, the light passes through the lens, a...
Once through the pupil, the light passes through the lens, a...
1.7K