Retinal biomarkers that signal brain changes in early Alzheimer’s disease
Official title: Longitudinal validation of retinal biomarkers against cerebral imaging in preclinical Alzheimer's disease
Funded at University of Rhode Island · NIH-11374870 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are following people at risk for Alzheimer’s to see if eye scans can reveal early brain changes before symptoms show up.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Rhode Island NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kingston, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,002,901 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG079241-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11374870 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults at risk for Alzheimer’s disease who are part of the ARIAS study and willing to undergo retinal imaging, brain MRI, PET imaging, and blood biomarker testing.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not at risk for Alzheimer’s or who do not undergo the full imaging and blood testing protocol may not receive direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses the ARIAS cohort to study whether changes seen in the retina can reflect early brain changes associated with preclinical Alzheimer’s disease. By combining retinal imaging with brain MRI and PET biomarkers, plus new blood biomarkers, the study aims to identify which retinal signals best predict future brain changes. The work is observational and longitudinal, tracking participants over time to map how eye findings relate to brain biology before dementia develops. If successful, these retinal markers could offer a cheap, noninvasive way to screen for risk and monitor disease progression.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If retinal biomarkers accurately reflect brain changes, this could lead to earlier detection and easier monitoring of Alzheimer’s risk using simple eye exams.
How similar studies have gone: Previous retinal biomarker research in Alzheimer’s has shown promise, but this study advances by linking retinal signals to direct brain biomarkers over time.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Rhode Island
Kingston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Alber, Jessica — University of Rhode Island
- Study coordinator: Alber, Jessica
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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.