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- Title
Multimodal investigation of melanopsin retinal ganglion cells in Alzheimer's disease.
- Authors
La Morgia, Chiara; Mitolo, Micaela; Romagnoli, Martina; Stanzani Maserati, Michelangelo; Evangelisti, Stefania; De Matteis, Maddalena; Capellari, Sabina; Bianchini, Claudio; Testa, Claudia; Vandewalle, Gilles; Santoro, Aurelia; Carbonelli, Michele; D'Agati, Pietro; Filardi, Marco; Avanzini, Pietro; Barboni, Piero; Zenesini, Corrado; Baccari, Flavia; Liguori, Rocco; Tonon, Caterina
- Abstract
Objective: In Alzheimer's disease (AD), the presence of circadian dysfunction is well‐known and may occur early in the disease course. The melanopsin retinal ganglion cell (mRGC) system may play a relevant role in contributing to circadian dysfunction. In this study, we aimed at evaluating, through a multimodal approach, the mRGC system in AD at an early stage of disease. Methods: We included 29 mild–moderate AD (70.9 ± 11 years) and 26 (70.5 ± 8 years) control subjects. We performed an extensive neurophtalmological evaluation including optical coherence tomography with ganglion cell layer segmentation, actigraphic evaluation of the rest‐activity rhythm, chromatic pupillometry analyzed with a new data‐fitting approach, and brain functional MRI combined with light stimuli assessing the mRGC system. Results: We demonstrated a significant thinning of the infero‐temporal sector of the ganglion cell layer in AD compared to controls. Moreover, we documented by actigraphy the presence of a circadian‐impaired AD subgroup. Overall, circadian measurements worsened by age. Chromatic pupillometry evaluation highlighted the presence of a pupil‐light response reduction in the rod condition pointing to mRGC dendropathy. Finally, brain fMRI showed a reduced occipital cortex activation with blue light particularly for the sustained responses. Interpretation: Overall, the results of this multimodal innovative approach clearly document a dysfunctional mRGC system at early stages of disease as a relevant contributing factor for circadian impairment in AD providing also support to the use of light therapy in AD.
- Subjects
RETINAL ganglion cells; ALZHEIMER'S disease; MELANOPSIN; OPTICAL coherence tomography; FUNCTIONAL magnetic resonance imaging
- Publication
Annals of Clinical & Translational Neurology, 2023, Vol 10, Issue 6, p918
- ISSN
2328-9503
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1002/acn3.51773