Retinal biomarkers in cognitive impairment and dementia: Structural, functional, and molecular insights.

ABSTRACT: Cognitive impairment and dementia, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), pose a global health crisis, necessitating non-invasive biomarkers for early detection. This review highlights the retina, an accessible extension of the central nervous system (CNS), as a window to cerebral pathology through structural, functional, and molecular alterations. By synthesizing interdisciplinary evidence, we identify retinal biomarkers as promising tools for early diagnosis and risk stratification. Nevertheless, translating biomarkers into clinical practice faces significant translational hurdles, including methodological heterogeneity, confounding variables, lack of standardized protocols, and insufficient longitudinal validation in diverse populations. Overcoming these challenges through rigorous standar

SUBMITTER: Min Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12421246 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature