A new study shows that the eyes
are telltale signs for understanding diseases of the brain. Scientists at the
UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences found that retinal scans can distinguish
vital changes in blood vessels that might provide an early sign of Alzheimer’s
disease. These scans provide insight into how one of the most common
Alzheimer’s risk genes (APOE4) gives way to the disease.
Fanny Elahi, MD, Ph.D., assistant
professor of neurology, member of the UCSF Memory and Aging Center (MAC) and
lead author of the study, said, “The most prevalent genetic risk for
Alzheimer’s disease is a variant of the APOE gene, known as APOE4. We still
don’t fully understand how this variant increases risk of brain degeneration,
we just know that it does, and that this risk is modified by sex, race, and
lifestyle. Our research provides new insights into how APOE4 impacts blood
vessels and may provide a path forward for early detection of neurodegenerative
disease.”
The effects of APOE4 capillaries
in the brain have been studied in mice. Elahi has long suspected these tiny
blood vessels might play a crucial role in Alzheimer’s disease due to their
important functions through the blood-brain barrier, such as delivering
nutrients and oxygen, ridding the body of waste, and monitoring immune system
responses. Elahi says damage to these blood vessels could lead to multiple
issues, including the protein buildup and cognitive decline seen in Alzheimer’s
patients. Since we cannot visualize
individual capillaries in living peoples’ brains, Elahi focused on the eyes
instead.
Through a non-invasive eye scan,
APOE4-associated capillary changes were detected in humans. Light-penetrating
tissue shares biology with the brain, so researchers believe the retina might
help establish APOE4 variants and how similar capillaries inside the brain are
affected.
After analyzing the retinal
scans, a reduced capillary density in APOE4 carriers was found, signifying an effect
that increased with age. The team also compared the abnormalities found in the
retinal scans to brain perfusion and found that people with higher density
retinal capillary density also had greater brain blood flow.
Elahi said, “This is the first
time that we have demonstrated in living, asymptomatic humans that the smallest
blood vessels are affected in APOE4 gene carriers. That’s important because it
suggests that the increased risk of brain degeneration and Alzheimer’s disease
in APOE4 carriers might be through its effect on blood vessels. This is just
the beginning. But the implications for early detection and possible
intervention can be significant in combatting Alzheimer’s disease and other
neurodegenerative disorders. It’s much harder to regenerate neurons than to
stop their degeneration from happening in the first place. Similar to cancer,
early detection can save lives.”
Rohr Eye
& Laser Center offers the most advanced technology available
to provide personalized and extraordinary care to our patients. Whether your
goal is to maintain or improve your natural vision, we are here to help you.
Call us at 877-579-0202 or visit https://www.michiganlasik.com/ to schedule an appointment today.
Written by the digital
marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.
