Evaluation of Cholinergic Deficiency in Preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease Using Pupillometry

Cortical cholinergic deficiency is prominent in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and published findings of diminished pupil flash response in AD suggest that this deficiency may extend to the visual cortical areas and anterior eye. Pupillometry is a low-cost, noninvasive technique that may be useful for mo...

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Main Authors: Shaun Frost, Liam Robinson, Christopher C. Rowe, David Ames, Colin L. Masters, Kevin Taddei, Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith, Ralph N. Martins, Yogesan Kanagasingam
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2017-01-01
Series:Journal of Ophthalmology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/7935406
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author Shaun Frost
Liam Robinson
Christopher C. Rowe
David Ames
Colin L. Masters
Kevin Taddei
Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith
Ralph N. Martins
Yogesan Kanagasingam
author_facet Shaun Frost
Liam Robinson
Christopher C. Rowe
David Ames
Colin L. Masters
Kevin Taddei
Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith
Ralph N. Martins
Yogesan Kanagasingam
author_sort Shaun Frost
collection DOAJ
description Cortical cholinergic deficiency is prominent in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and published findings of diminished pupil flash response in AD suggest that this deficiency may extend to the visual cortical areas and anterior eye. Pupillometry is a low-cost, noninvasive technique that may be useful for monitoring cholinergic deficits which generally lead to memory and cognitive disorders. The aim of the study was to evaluate pupillometry for early detection of AD by comparing the pupil flash response (PFR) in AD (N=14) and cognitively normal healthy control (HC, N=115) participants, with the HC group stratified according to high (N=38) and low (N=77) neocortical amyloid burden (NAB). Constriction phase PFR parameters were significantly reduced in AD compared to HC (maximum acceleration p<0.05, maximum velocity p<0.0005, average velocity p<0.005, and constriction amplitude p<0.00005). The high-NAB HC subgroup had reduced PFR response cross-sectionally, and also a greater decline longitudinally, compared to the low-NAB subgroup, suggesting changes to pupil response in preclinical AD. The results suggest that PFR changes may occur in the preclinical phase of AD. Hence, pupillometry has a potential as an adjunct for noninvasive, cost-effective screening for preclinical AD.
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spelling doaj-art-282f585677e24b2ea08b2a4684f98cf52025-08-20T02:04:17ZengWileyJournal of Ophthalmology2090-004X2090-00582017-01-01201710.1155/2017/79354067935406Evaluation of Cholinergic Deficiency in Preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease Using PupillometryShaun Frost0Liam Robinson1Christopher C. Rowe2David Ames3Colin L. Masters4Kevin Taddei5Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith6Ralph N. Martins7Yogesan Kanagasingam8Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Perth, WA, AustraliaCommonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Perth, WA, AustraliaDepartment of Nuclear Medicine and Centre for PET, Austin Health, Melbourne, VIC, AustraliaDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, AustraliaThe Mental Health Research Institute (MHRI), University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, AustraliaSchool of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, AustraliaSchool of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, AustraliaSchool of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, AustraliaCommonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Perth, WA, AustraliaCortical cholinergic deficiency is prominent in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and published findings of diminished pupil flash response in AD suggest that this deficiency may extend to the visual cortical areas and anterior eye. Pupillometry is a low-cost, noninvasive technique that may be useful for monitoring cholinergic deficits which generally lead to memory and cognitive disorders. The aim of the study was to evaluate pupillometry for early detection of AD by comparing the pupil flash response (PFR) in AD (N=14) and cognitively normal healthy control (HC, N=115) participants, with the HC group stratified according to high (N=38) and low (N=77) neocortical amyloid burden (NAB). Constriction phase PFR parameters were significantly reduced in AD compared to HC (maximum acceleration p<0.05, maximum velocity p<0.0005, average velocity p<0.005, and constriction amplitude p<0.00005). The high-NAB HC subgroup had reduced PFR response cross-sectionally, and also a greater decline longitudinally, compared to the low-NAB subgroup, suggesting changes to pupil response in preclinical AD. The results suggest that PFR changes may occur in the preclinical phase of AD. Hence, pupillometry has a potential as an adjunct for noninvasive, cost-effective screening for preclinical AD.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/7935406
spellingShingle Shaun Frost
Liam Robinson
Christopher C. Rowe
David Ames
Colin L. Masters
Kevin Taddei
Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith
Ralph N. Martins
Yogesan Kanagasingam
Evaluation of Cholinergic Deficiency in Preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease Using Pupillometry
Journal of Ophthalmology
title Evaluation of Cholinergic Deficiency in Preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease Using Pupillometry
title_full Evaluation of Cholinergic Deficiency in Preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease Using Pupillometry
title_fullStr Evaluation of Cholinergic Deficiency in Preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease Using Pupillometry
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of Cholinergic Deficiency in Preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease Using Pupillometry
title_short Evaluation of Cholinergic Deficiency in Preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease Using Pupillometry
title_sort evaluation of cholinergic deficiency in preclinical alzheimer s disease using pupillometry
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/7935406
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