研究目的
Investigating the retinal and optic disc alterations in Alzheimer’s disease using optical coherence tomography (OCT) to explore the eye as a potential window to the central nervous system.
研究成果
The study concludes that axonal loss secondary to pathologic alterations in the brains of AD patients can be observed by OCT. The progression of AD is associated with a progressive loss of ganglion cells, as indicated by the significant correlation between mean RNFL thickness and disease duration. OCT allows for observation of the axonal constituents of the visual pathway and direct visualization of the anterior part of the central nervous system through the eye.
研究不足
Media opacity (like cataract), instrument variability, retinal pigment epithelium status, and centering and positioning of the images all affect the quality of the data obtained by these imaging devices. In patients in advanced stages of AD, good-quality scans are often not possible to acquire. Some other ophthalmologic diseases and optic neuropathies can cause a reduction in RNFL and retinal thickness.