OCT shows potential in the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) may aid in the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), according to a study that examined the relationship between retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and AD.

In this observational, analytical, cross‐sectional study, 32 patients (64 patients) with AD or mild cognitive impairment and a group of healthy controls underwent an ophthalmological and a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation.

Researchers found that in the superior and temporal quadrants of the retina, there was a significant linear trend towards a thinning of the retinal nerve fiber layer as the degree of cognitive deterioration increased. A significant correlation was also found between the mean thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer of the left temporal quadrant and occipital white matter lesions.

Reference
Carazo-Barrios L, Archidona-Arranz A, Claros-Ruiz A, et al. Correlation between retinal nerve fibre layer thickness and white matter lesions in Alzheimer’s disease. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2021; https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.5496.