Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42885984›Full record

ArticleTranslational vision science & technology2026

Multimodal Retinal Imaging Correlates With Brain Atrophy and Plasma Biomarkers in Alzheimer's Disease.

Xiaoqian Luan, Jianing Shen, Youjie Wang, Huihua Qiu, Haoran Cheng, Chunwen Zheng, Suqing Hu, Caiyun Wen, Guoquan Cao, William Robert Kwpaong and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Translational vision science & technology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Xiaoqian LuanDepartment of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Jianing ShenSchool of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Youjie WangDepartment of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Huihua QiuDepartment of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Haoran ChengDepartment of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Chunwen ZhengDepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Suqing HuSchool of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Caiyun WenDepartment of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Guoquan CaoDepartment of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
William Robert KwpaongDepartment of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Zhen WangDepartment of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate retinal structural and microvascular changes in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and evaluate their associations with neuroimaging markers, plasma biomarkers, and cognitive impairment. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 181 participants (95 with AD and 86 cognitively unimpaired controls). AD diagnosis was established according to National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer's Association criteria with positive amyloid-β positron emission tomography imaging. Retinal structure and microvasculature were assessed using swept-source optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA). Cortical thickness and gray matter volume were quantified using structural magnetic resonance imaging. Plasma Aβ42 and phosphorylated tau-217 (p-tau217) were measured, and cognitive function was evaluated using the Mini-Mental State Examination and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Results: Compared with controls, patients with AD demonstrated reduced retinal nerve fiber layer, ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL), inner nuclear layer, and outer retinal layer thicknesses, together with lower superficial vascular complex (SVC) and deep vascular complex densities (all P < 0.001). GCIPL thickness and SVC density were associated with cortical atrophy in AD-vulnerable regions, including temporal, parietal, and occipital cortices. Lower plasma Aβ42 levels were associated with reduced retinal layer thickness and vascular density, whereas higher p-tau217 levels were associated with reduced outer retinal layer thickness and SVC density. GCIPL thickness showed the strongest association with cognitive performance, while lower SVC density was associated with poorer MoCA scores. APOE ε4 carriers exhibited greater GCIPL thinning, reduced retinal vascular density, and more extensive cortical abnormalities despite similar plasma Aβ42 and p-tau217 levels. Conclusions: Retinal neuronal and microvascular alterations are associated with AD-related molecular pathology, cerebral neurodegeneration, APOE ε4-related vulnerability, and cognitive impairment. OCT/OCTA may provide a noninvasive adjunct approach for characterizing neurodegenerative and neurovascular changes in AD. Translational Relevance: Retinal imaging may provide a scalable and noninvasive approach for detecting and monitoring AD pathology.

Indexed as

Alzheimer DiseaseBiomarkersBrainMultimodal ImagingRetinaAgedAged, 80 and overAmyloid beta-PeptidesAtrophyCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingMalePeptide Fragmentstau ProteinsAmyloid beta-Peptidesamyloid beta-protein (1-42)BiomarkersPeptide Fragmentstau Proteins

Identifiers

PMID42885984
PMCPMC13679782

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.