Alzheimer’s Disease — Plaque Buildup in Retinas

We already know that in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) there is amyloid plaque that builds up in the brain which causes the AD. Now, scientists at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California report that the same nerve cell-damaging plaque also builds up in the retinas of the eyes. Moreover, it shows up in the retinas earlier than in the brain and this could lead to earlier diagnosis using non-invasive optical imaging.

Amyloid plaque was discovered in the retinas of deceased Alzheimer’s disease patients and further tested on live laboratory mice genetically modified to model the human disease. The research was conducted by a team of scientists at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in collaboration with colleagues from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel and the University of Southern California. The results will be presented on July 13, 2010 at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease in Honolulu, Hawaii.

In an earlier study published last year, University of California – Irvine neuroscientists found that retinas in genetically altered mice with Alzheimer’s undergo changes similar to those that occur in the brain — most notably the accumulation of amyloid plaque lesions. In addition, the scientists discovered that when Alzheimer’s disease therapies are tested in such mice, retinal changes that result might predict how the treatments will work in humans better than changes in mouse brain tissue.

Alzheimer’s disease is becoming more prevalent world-wide and is tragic for the whole family. The retina is readily accessible and since it is considered part of the central nervous system, it has many similarities with the brain. This discovery is non-invasive and if it proves to be conclusive as well, we can start to prepare for the difficult future much sooner than previously.

You can read about this most recent study at several Web sites. Click here.

Tagged with: Abnormal Deposits • Alzheimer Disease • Alzheimer S Disease • Alzhemier's Association International Conference • Amyloid Plaques • Baby Boom Generation • Brain Tissue • California Report • California Results • Cedars Sinai Medical • Cedars Sinai Medical Center • Central Nervous System • Disease Alzheimer • Disease Patients • Honolulu Hawaii • Interesting News • Laboratory Mice • Live Animals • Mouse Brain • Nerve Cell • Neuroimage • Neuroscientists • Optical Imaging • Plaque Buildup • Research Scientists • Retina • Retinal Changes • Retinal Imaging • Retinas • Sinai Medical Center • Therapeutic Intervention • University Of California Irvine • University Of Southern California • Weizmann Institute Of Science

Filed under: Alzheimer's Association • Alzheimer's Disease • Alzheimer's Disease Research • Caregiver • Caretaker • Dementia

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