Alzheimer's Disease in the Retina: Imaging Retinal A beta Plaques for Early Diagnosis and Therapy Assessment

作者：Koronyo Yosef; Salumbides Brenda C; Black Keith L; Koronyo Hamaoui Maya^*

来源：Neurodegenerative Diseases, 2012, 10(1-4): 285-293.

DOI：10.1159/000335154

• Retina
• Amyloid plaques
• Eye
• Curcumin
• Optical imaging
• Prognosis
• Immunotherapy
• Vaccination

Background: Definite Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis at early stages is vital for targeting intervention, yet currently unavailable. Noninvasive detection of the pathological hallmark, amyloid-beta protein (A beta) plaques, is limited in the brain. However, the existence of A beta plaques in the retina, possibly at presymptomatic stages, may improve early detection of AD. Objective: To summarize clinical and preclinical evidence showing that the retina, an accessible part of the central nervous system, displays abnormalities in AD, especially A beta plaque pathology. The ability to monitor in vivo retinal plaque dynamics in response to immunotherapy is also assessed. Methods: Literature analysis of retinal AD pathology and imaging is provided. In our studies, systemic curcumin is administered to enable monitoring of retinal A beta plaques in live APP(SWE)/PS1(Delta E9) transgenic mice by optical imaging. Results: Visual and retinal abnormalities, including early manifestation of retinal A beta plaque pathology, have been documented in AD patients and animal models. In mouse models, retinal A beta plaques accumulate with age and decrease in response to immunotherapy, consistent with brain pathology. Here, we demonstrate that retinal plaques can be individually monitored in real time following glatiramer acetate immunization. Conclusion: Translation of noninvasive retinal-plaque imaging to humans could eventually facilitate early and accurate AD diagnosis and therapy assessment.

• 出版日期2012