Reflections on the Utility of the Retina as a Biomarker for Alzheimer’s Disease: A Literature Review

Ngolab, Jennifer; Honma, Patrick; Rissman, Robert A.

doi:10.1007/s40120-019-00173-4

Cited by 44 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 144 publications

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“…Tau aggregates have recently been described in the retina of AD patients (Schön et al, 2012 ; den Haan et al, 2018 ; Grimaldi et al, 2019 ). It has therefore been proposed that retinal imaging of tau aggregates could have a role for AD diagnosis (Ngolab et al, 2019 ). Although further investigations are needed, NIR probes represent a valuable tool for this purpose.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular Imaging of Tau Protein: New Insights and Future Directions

Pizzarelli

Pediconi

Angelantonio

2020

Front. Mol. Neurosci.

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Tau is a microtubule-associated protein (MAPT) that is highly expressed in neurons and implicated in several cellular processes. Tau misfolding and self-aggregation give rise to proteinaceous deposits known as neuro-fibrillary tangles. Tau tangles play a key role in the genesis of a group of diseases commonly referred to as tauopathies; notably, these aggregates start to form decades before any clinical symptoms manifest. Advanced imaging methodologies have clarified important structural and functional aspects of tau and could have a role as diagnostic tools in clinical research. In the present review, recent progresses in tau imaging will be discussed. We will focus mainly on super-resolution imaging methods and the development of near-infrared fluorescent probes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular Imaging of Tau Protein: New Insights and Future Directions

Pizzarelli

Pediconi

Angelantonio

2020

Front. Mol. Neurosci.

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“…Interestingly, as part of the CNS, the retina has demonstrated some pathological processes that occur in the brain during neurodegeneration. In AD patients, relevant visual deficits (Ngolab et al, 2019) sometimes appear before the first neurological symptoms, making the retina a potential in vivo tool to use for monitoring the onset and progression of the AD neurodegeneration (Liao et al, 2018). Therefore, the development of in vitro engineered tissue-like constructs, such as retinal organoids, that better approach the retinal tissue and physiology undergoing AD pathogenesis is reasonably also under evaluation (Artero Castro et al, 2019).…”

Section: Alzheimer's Disease In a Dish: Patient-specific Brain And Rementioning

confidence: 99%

Retinal and Brain Organoids: Bridging the Gap Between in vivo Physiology and in vitro Micro-Physiology for the Study of Alzheimer’s Diseases

et al. 2020

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Recent progress in tissue engineering has led to increasingly complex approaches to investigate human neurodegenerative diseases in vitro, such as Alzheimer's disease, aiming to provide more functional and physiological models for the study of their pathogenesis, and possibly the identification of novel diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cortical and retinal organoids represent a novel class of in vitro three-dimensional models capable to recapitulate with a high similarity the structure and the complexity of the native brain and retinal tissues, thus providing a framework for better mimicking in a dish the patient's disease features. This review aims to discuss progress made over the years in the field of in vitro three-dimensional cell culture systems, and the benefits and disadvantages related to a possible application of organoids for the study of neurodegeneration associated with Alzheimer's disease, providing a promising breakthrough toward a personalized medicine approach and the reduction in the use of humanized animal models.

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“…Thinning of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) due to the selective death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) has emerged as a potential diagnostic test for AD [ 10 , 11 ], prompting visualization of the retina by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and functional analysis with electroretinography (ERG). Though promising, these tests lack sufficient specificity and sensitivity for broad clinical applications [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Retinal Degeneration and Alzheimer’s Disease: An Evolving Link

Ashok

Singh

Chaudhary

et al. 2020

IJMS

105

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Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and glaucoma are degenerative conditions of the retina and a significant cause of irreversible blindness in developed countries. Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common dementia of the elderly, is often associated with AMD and glaucoma. The cardinal features of AD include extracellular accumulation of amyloid β (Aβ) and intracellular deposits of hyper-phosphorylated tau (p-tau). Neuroinflammation and brain iron dyshomeostasis accompany Aβ and p-tau deposits and, together, lead to progressive neuronal death and dementia. The accumulation of Aβ and iron in drusen, the hallmark of AMD, and Aβ and p-tau in retinal ganglion cells (RGC), the main retinal cell type implicated in glaucoma, and accompanying inflammation suggest overlapping pathology. Visual abnormalities are prominent in AD and are believed to develop before cognitive decline. Some are caused by degeneration of the visual cortex, while others are due to RGC loss or AMD-associated retinal degeneration. Here, we review recent information on Aβ, p-tau, chronic inflammation, and iron dyshomeostasis as common pathogenic mechanisms linking the three degenerative conditions, and iron chelation as a common therapeutic option for these disorders. Additionally discussed is the role of prion protein, infamous for prion disorders, in Aβ-mediated toxicity and, paradoxically, in neuroprotection.

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Reflections on the Utility of the Retina as a Biomarker for Alzheimer’s Disease: A Literature Review

Cited by 44 publications

References 144 publications

Molecular Imaging of Tau Protein: New Insights and Future Directions

Molecular Imaging of Tau Protein: New Insights and Future Directions

Retinal and Brain Organoids: Bridging the Gap Between in vivo Physiology and in vitro Micro-Physiology for the Study of Alzheimer’s Diseases

Retinal Degeneration and Alzheimer’s Disease: An Evolving Link

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