Sharper eye scans to spot Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s changes
Achieving specificity in imaging neurodegeneration with visible light Optical Coherence Tomography
This project will use a new high-resolution visible-light eye scan and computer analysis to look for retinal signs in people with Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11370752 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would have a noninvasive, high-resolution retinal imaging session using a new visible-light OCT camera that can see much finer layers than standard eye scans. The team will pair those images with machine-learning tools to highlight patterns linked to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. By comparing images from people with these conditions and from healthy volunteers, they aim to find retinal markers that track disease type and progression. The work focuses on improving detection and monitoring through clearer pictures of the retina.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults with diagnosed Alzheimer’s disease, Alzheimer-type dementia, or Parkinson’s disease, or older adults with cognitive or movement symptoms who can come for retinal imaging visits.
Not a fit: People with severe eye conditions that prevent clear retinal imaging (for example dense cataract or advanced retinal disease) or those without neurodegenerative disease are less likely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could allow earlier or more specific detection and tracking of neurodegenerative changes using a quick, noninvasive eye scan.
How similar studies have performed: Standard near-infrared OCT studies have shown retinal thinning and vascular changes in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, but using visible-light OCT with 1 μm resolution and machine learning is a newer, less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- New York University School of Medicine — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Srinivasan, Vivek Jay — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Srinivasan, Vivek Jay
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.