Multimodal Ocular Imaging in Neurodegeneration

Study Summary

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are two of the most common types of age-related neurodegenerative disorders. Identifying at-risk patients and gauging disease progression in a non-invasive manner would be invaluable. Early and correct diagnosis is crucial for coordinating supportive care, patient expectations, caregiver arrangements and family planning. In addition, as treatments become available, beginning therapy early in the disease before symptoms become severe will be important. Multimodal ocular imaging (MOI) includes an ophthalmic (eye) exam and eye photographs to evaluate different layers of the retina, which is the light sensing layer of the eye. Newer technologies make it possible to visualize the disease process occurring in AD and FTD by using MOI to look at the retina, since the retina is fundamentally an outward extension of the brain itself. This study will attempt to correlate signs of disease in the retina, as determined by MOI, with plaque buildup in the brain as seen by imaging. This will demonstrate the sensitivity and specificity of MOI for diagnosing AD and FTD in a noninvasive manner.

Primary Outcome

Imaging of the eye will be used to measure differences in retinal thickness between subjects with Alzheimer's Dementia, Frontotemporal Dementia, and healthy age-matched controls.

Interventions

• DEVICE Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• DEVICE Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT)
• DEVICE Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
• DIAGNOSTIC_TEST Comprehensive Ophthalmic Examination
• DEVICE Fundus Photography