- Despite growing numbers of people affected by Alzheimer’s disease, the mechanisms by which it affects the brain remain debated.
- This means that developing early diagnostic tests is challenging, which affects the development of clinical trials to test potential treatments.
- A recent study has suggested changes to the retina could shed some light on the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
One of the challenges with treating Alzheimer’s disease is that symptoms often appear after the damage has already been done to the brain.
Many treatments being developed target the protein beta-amyloid, as Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by the buildup of plaques of this protein in the brain, affecting the neurons’ ability to signal. This leads to cognitive decline.
Finding ways to detect Alzheimer’s disease as it develops could help affected individuals access appropriate treatment earlier and limit the damage that causes cognitive decline.
Now, a study published in the journal
The researchers looked at the retinas of 24 deceased human donors with Alzheimer’s disease, 10 donors with mild cognitive impairment and 27 with healthy cognition.
The retina is the part of the eye that converts light into nerve signals that allow us to see. During embryonic development, it develops as an extension of the brain, and as such, can give us unique insight into the status of the brain.
The retina also has its own blood barrier, formed of tightly joined cells that prevent harmful substances from entering the retinal tissue.
The researchers’ main finding was of up to 70% disruption of the retinal blood barrier in people with Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment compared to those with healthy cognition, meaning harmful substances could pass through the barrier and enter the retinal tissue.
Researchers looked at the proteins…
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