Eye scan to help detect Alzheimer's early
Retinal Light Scattering Measurements as a Clinical Biomarker of Alzheimer's Disease
This project uses a special light-based eye scan to look for tiny changes in the retina that might help detect Alzheimer's disease earlier in people with memory concerns or risk factors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11267967 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would have a noninvasive light-based eye scan that measures tiny structures in the layers of your retina using a technique called angle-resolved low coherence interferometry (a/LCI). Researchers will compare those eye measurements with memory testing and other Alzheimer's tests to see whether the retinal signature matches disease presence. The goal is to find retinal features that are more specific to Alzheimer's than simpler measures like retinal thinning. If successful, the test could be lower-cost and easier to access than PET scans.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are older adults or people with memory problems, mild cognitive impairment, or concern about Alzheimer's disease who can travel for clinic visits.
Not a fit: People with serious retinal disease (for example severe glaucoma or scarring) or those already diagnosed with advanced Alzheimer's may not get useful information from this retinal measure.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If this works, it could provide a quicker, less expensive, and less invasive way to help detect Alzheimer's disease earlier.
How similar studies have performed: Other eye-imaging work like OCT has found links between retinal thinning and Alzheimer's but results are mixed, and using angle-resolved light scattering (a/LCI) for Alzheimer's is a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wax, Adam — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Wax, Adam
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.