Hyperspectral retinal imaging to detect Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative changes

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This interventional imaging project uses non-invasive hyperspectral retinal photography to capture a multidimensional "hypercube" of retinal data that may reflect underlying brain protein changes such as amyloid beta. Participants will include people over 30 with Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Lewy-body dementia, vascular dementia, other neurodegenerative conditions, and age- and sex-matched controls who will undergo retinal imaging with a hyperspectral camera. Where available, prior diagnostic data (genetic tests, blood biomarkers, amyloid PET, or cerebrospinal fluid results) will be used to compare retinal signatures against established biomarkers. The study aims to expand prior findings of retinal amyloid signals in Alzheimer’s to see if similar retinal changes appear across other dementias and neurodegenerative diseases.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Aged over 30 years.
2. Have dementia or a neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Lewy body dementia, Niemann-Pick type 2 or vascular dementia (age-matched and sex-matched controls will also be recruited).
3. With the exception of participants with Parkinson's disease and Lewy body disease, for whom clinical examination by a neurologist is sufficient to establish a clinical diagnosis of probable dementia with Lewy Body or probable Parkinson disease dementia, all participants must have previously undergone at least of one of the following tests to help to confirm a clinical diagnosis of dementia or neurodegenerative disease: genetic tests, blood biomarker tests (amyloid, tau, neurofilament light), a brain amyloid beta PET scan, or cerebrospinal fluid tests.
4. Have a minimum best corrected visual acuity level of 6/60 in both eyes and no major eye problems, such as advanced age-related macular degeneration, advanced glaucoma, or greater than moderate non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
5. Be willing to participate in the study and attend the Centre for Eye Research Australia.
6. Be accompanied by a friend or family member.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Inability to provide informed consent
2. Ocular conditions preventing adequate retinal imaging (e.g., dense cataract, severe corneal opacity, vitreous haemorrhage)
3. Known contraindication to pharmacological pupil dilation
4. Any condition that, in the investigator's opinion, would compromise participant safety or image quality

Where it's running

• The Centre for Eye Research Australia
  Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Recruiting

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Darvy Dang
• Email: darvy.dang@unimelb.edu.au
• Phone: +61 3 9959 0102

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.