Retinal imaging biomarkers of neurodegenerative diseases

ABSTRACT

The timely detection of neurodegenerative diseases is central to improving clinical care as well as enabling the development and deployment of disease-modifying therapies. Retinal imaging is emerging as a method to detect features of a number of neurodegenerative diseases, given the anatomical and functional similarities between the retina and the brain. This review provides an overview of the current status of retinal imaging biomarkers of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, Huntington’s disease and multiple sclerosis. Whilst research findings are promising, efforts to harmonise study designs and imaging methods will be important in translating these findings into clinical care. Doing so may mean that eye care providers will play important roles in the detection of a variety of neurodegenerative diseases in future.

KEYWORDS:

• Biomarker
• imaging
• neurodegenerative diseases
• retina

Disclosure statement

XH and PvW are co-founders of Enlighten Imaging PTY LTD, a start-up company focussed on developing novel retinal imaging solutions for neurological and retinal diseases.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation [RDAPB 201809]; National Foundation for Medical Research and Innovation [Mason Foundation Portfolio 3]; H & L Hecht Trust (Perpetual Trustees) [IPAP2021/1615]; Yulgilbar Foundation [YARP].