In this Viewpoint article published in the journal Advances in Geriatric Medicine and Research, Dr. Cecilia Lee discusses the ways in which the eye, specifically the retina, can provide valuable information about the aging brain and dementia. The eye and the brain share the same embryologic origins and undergo similar changes as we age. One reason that it is challenging to develop treatments for neurodegenerative diseases associated with aging such as Alzheimer's disease is that it is very difficult to examine brain tissue while a person is living. The retina, however, can be visualized easily and non-invasively in an ophthalmology clinic or doctor's office, and can provide interesting clues about disease processes in the brain.
This review explores the recent developments in retinal imaging technology and what we know to date about various retinal pathological changes that correlate with Alzheimer's disease. The authors also review what we hope to discover going forward, such as understanding how changes in the retina correlate with Alzheimer's disease progression, and if they can be detected before cognitive decline occurs. These potential biomarkers in the retina may be used to monitor disease progression when evaluating potential therapies in clinical trials, for example. Since there is no known treatment for Alzheimer's disease, the hope is that the retina may provide new insights into the mechanisms of aging and related pathological processes that will lead to the development of interventions to halt or prevent Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
Blazes M, Lee CS. Understanding the Brain through Aging Eyes. Adv Geriatr Med Res. 2021;3(2):e210008. doi: 10.20900/agmr20210008.