Inner retinal layer thickness reflects plasma biomarkers in preclinical Alzheimer’s disease - Summary - MDSpire

Inner retinal layer thickness reflects plasma biomarkers in preclinical Alzheimer’s disease

  • By

  • Jane W. Chan

  • Ziyuan Wang

  • Emily Xu

  • Ibrahim Abboud

  • Aya Alhasany

  • Sophia Xu

  • Xiaomeng Wu

  • Natalie Astraea

  • Fei Jiang

  • Zhihong Jewel Hu

  • May 18, 2026

  • 0 min

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Objective:

To examine the association between retinal thickness measurements and plasma Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers in cognitively normal adults specifically at increased risk for AD.

Key Findings:
  • Thinner inner nuclear layer (INL) and ganglion cell layer (GCL) measurements are associated with higher levels of p-tau217 and GFAP, indicating potential biomarkers for early AD.
Interpretation:

The findings suggest potential relationships between retinal layer thickness and plasma biomarkers indicative of Alzheimer's disease pathology, warranting further investigation.

Limitations:
  • Small sample size limits generalizability.
  • Cross-sectional design does not allow for causal inferences.
  • Preliminary nature of findings requires validation in larger studies, affecting the robustness of conclusions.
Conclusion:

Larger, longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these preliminary findings and assess the role of retinal OCT in early AD risk assessment, emphasizing the importance of validation.

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