Although the eyes are not a window to the soul from a scientific point of view, they are to the brain for some issues. One of them is the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Amyloid plaques are protein deposits that accumulate between brain cells, hindering their function and ultimately causing neuronal death. They are considered a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease, and are the subject of much research looking for ways to prevent or minimize their formation.
But amyloid deposits can also occur in the retina of the eye, often in patients clinically diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, suggesting the existence of similar pathologies in both organs.
In an investigation carried out in 2021 by the team led by Robert Rissman, from the University of California in San Diego, United States, observations of the retina were compared with observations of the brain.
The researchers found that the presence of retinal specks in the eyes correlated with higher levels of brain amyloid.
In this image of a retina, amyloid deposits are seen, marked as bright specks. (Photo: NeuroVision)
The finding suggests that retinal speckles may be useful as biomarkers for detecting Alzheimer’s disease when it is still at a very early stage. Also, photographing them is something that can be done non-invasively. (Fountain: NCYT de Amazings)