A link between the state of the retina and cognitive decline, which may indicate a risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, was discovered by New Zealand scientists from the University of Otago. They told about this in an article in the journal JAMA Ophthalmology.

The researchers analyzed data collected by a New Zealand project to monitor the health and development of more than a thousand people born between 1972 and 1973. In particular, they used information about the condition of the nerve fibers of the retina and the ganglion cell layer in 865 participants when they reached the age of 45. The researchers then compared this data with the results of cognitive tests of the participants.

It turned out that thicker layers of ganglion cells and nerve fibers in the retina correlated with better cognitive performance in both childhood and adulthood. A thinner retina has been associated with a reduced rate of comprehension and response to information received.

“In the near future, we hope that artificial intelligence will be able to take pictures of a person’s retina and determine if they are at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease long before the onset of symptoms, and when there is a possibility of treatment to alleviate symptoms,” the researchers say.

The first thing to check is whether the thinning of the retina really indicates the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, or whether these are natural changes that occur with age. If the association with the disease is confirmed, it will allow to identify risks before the onset of symptoms and take the necessary measures.

bbabo.Net