The Eye in Down syndrome as a window to Alzheimer's Disease
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Eye in Down syndrome as a window to Alzheimer's Disease.
IRAS ID
317526
Contact name
Julie-Anne Little
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Ulster University
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
There is a major need for early identification of those at risk of Alzheimer’s Disease. Recent work has highlighted the potential for images of the internal eye to provide evidence of the onset of Alzheimer’s Disease before other clinical signs are visible. People with Down syndrome are the largest patient group whose condition is associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s Disease. There is a valuable opportunity to investigate potential ocular indicators for Alzheimer’s Disease in Down syndrome. Recently, we investigated the lens of the eye and the light-sensing retina and the supporting choroid at the back of the eye in Down syndrome. We found evidence of early and unusual cataract formation, and a thickening of the tissue at the back of the eye compared to people without Down syndrome. These findings point to inflammatory and/or accelerated ageing processes that could be connected with Alzheimer’s Disease development. The next step is to profile the structure of the eye in Down syndrome and in people with mild cognitive impairment before Alzheimer’s disease develops, in addition to cognitive assessments and blood, saliva and tear samples. This will enable us to investigate the presence of inflammatory and Alzheimer’s Disease markers. The link between the changes in eye structures and inflammatory markers will help to develop a better understanding of how Alzheimer’s disease develops. This new insight could lead to more accessible, non-invasive ways to monitor Alzheimer's Disease from the earliest possible stage.
REC name
HSC REC A
REC reference
22/NI/0158
Date of REC Opinion
2 Dec 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion