Project #6 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.

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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.

Reference: Semih Ceylan, Onur Özalp & Eray Atalay (2022) A peek at the window from the eye into the brain: potential use of OCT angiography in dementia, Expert Review of Ophthalmology, 17:5, 295-297

This project is supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK), Project Number: 1919B012222136