Abstract
Background
Brain damage in Alzheimer's disease (AD) begins up to 20 years before the onset of disease symptoms and it is this ‘pre-symptomatic/clinical’ phase that provides the best opportunity for an effective, early intervention in AD. Hyperspectral retinal imaging has the potential to identify biomarkers that could reflect the build-up of brain amyloid load and thereby, could prove to be a valuable tool for mass population screening in preclinical AD.
Methods
Hyperspectral retinal imaging was completed in n=10 participants (of the planned 50 participants that will be completed by April 2018) recruited from one of our study cohorts (n=105, 60 years and above) that had completed brain amyloid imaging. After performing a thorough ophthalmic evaluation, hyperspectral retinal measurements were obtained in the reflectance mode with spectral range 450-900 nm and in the fluorescence mode. Image analysis will be performed to quantify the spectral signature of retinal features which are of interest and their association with brain amyloid load (participants with positive versus negative brain amyloid load) will be determined.
Results
Hyperspectral retinal imaging will be completed for the remaining n=40 participants, aged 60 years and above. Data will be analysed via image processing and preliminary findings presented at the conference.
Conclusions
Successful validation of hyperspectral retinal imaging will serve as an early, non-invasive and economical diagnostic tool for preclinical AD.