A team of scientists at the Indiana University School of Medicine has identified that an eye condition affecting the retina, the light-sensing tissue in the back of the eye, may serve as an early indicator for Alzheimer's disease. Their findings were published in Alzheimer's & Dementia, informs the aforesaid university.

During the study, scientists found that the presence of the APOE4 gene—known to increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease in humans—in mice impairs retinal function, suggesting a direct link between this genetic variant and visual processing deficits associated with Alzheimer's disease.

The research team used advanced imaging techniques to assess retinal structure and function in the mice. Compared to control groups, they observed significant alterations in retinal thickness and electrical activity in biological tissues and cells. These findings align with clinical observations of retinal abnormalities in Alzheimer's patients, reinforcing the relevance of this model for studying triggers of the disease.

"These results underscore the potential of retinal imaging as a non-invasive method to detect early neural changes in Alzheimer's disease," the scientists noted, in particular.