Dementia diagnosis using OCT-Angiography
The worldwide rapidly aging population and the resultant unprecedented rise in the incidence of dementia are anticipated to cause a greater burden in health expenditures both in underdeveloped and developed countries alike.
Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) is a noninvasive and facile method for visualizing retinal and choroidal microcirculation obviating the need for administering a systemic contrast agent. Compared to other brain imaging modalities, such as positron emission tomography imaging, it is more cost-effective and rapidly allows layer-by layer assessment of retinochoroidal microcirculation.
Recent studies have shown that changes in retinal microcirculation are associated with cerebral small vessel disease and alterations in retinal microcirculation may be a precursor to cerebrovascular accident and death. Hence, it is apparent that the evaluation of retinal circulation may provide useful information about cerebral circulation and used as a potential biomarker to understand cerebrovascular disease.
In this project we aim to compare various OCT-A-derived retinal vascular parameters for the potential differential diagnosis method between Alzheimer’s disease, Vascular dementia patients and healthy controls.
This project is supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK), Project Number: 1919B012222136
