Wide-angle retinal imaging v0-1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Wide-angle retinal imaging in neurodegeneration
IRAS ID
143561
Contact name
Sebastian Crutch
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Research summary
Amyloid plaques, and other characteristic pathological signs of neurodegeneration in the brain, are known to develop many years before the onset of cognitive symptoms. Drusen in the outer retina share many similarities to amyloid plaques seen in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Whilst these changes have been described in AD, we do not yet know whether they develop at a late or an early stage of disease, or whether they’re associated with changes in cognition and atrophy (shrinkage) of the brain. Retinal nerve fibre layer thickness and drusen deposits can be measured non-invasively using techniques that image of the back of the eye (optical coherence tomography [OCT], and ultra-wide angle scanning laser ophthalmoscopy respectively). This study will allow us to assess these changes in people with Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases to test whether they may be good markers of disease, potentially allowing earlier diagnosis and tracking of progression. Participants will be required to sit in front of each machine, and have a photograph taken of their retina (approx 2 minutes per eye).
This project is part of a Research Fellowship awarded to Tim Shakespeare by Alzheimer’s Research UK. Participants will be people with neurodegenerative disease or at risk of degenerative disease, and healthy controls. Some participants will already be involved in a REC approved study at the Dementia Research Centre and will be asked to enter this study in addition. It is anticipated that the data collected as part of this study will be used in conjunction with data collected from other studies in which participants have taken part at the DRC, in order to maximise the utility of this research to understand degenerative disease. Taking part in this study will not alter what is asked of patients in the other studies they are enrolled in.
REC name
London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/0242
Date of REC Opinion
1 May 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion