AAIC 2022 | Retinal biomarkers in Alzheimer’s disease

Natalia Vergara, PhD, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, discusses potential retinal biomarkers for Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Several retinal features are being explored as biomarkers in humans such as vasculature, blood flow, oxygen levels, thickness (particularly of the ganglion cell and nerve fibre layers) and function. A more complex technique is to administer autofluorescent curcumin which incorporates into amyloid. Subsequent fluorescence imaging can be performed in the retina, and amyloid can be quantified without the need for brain imaging. It is important to note that these techniques need further investigation to be validated. This interview took place at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 2022 in San Diego, CA.