40 Hz flicker preconditioning protects nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy via adenosine signaling.

ABSTRACT: Nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) is a leading cause of sudden, painless vision loss in the elderly, yet no proven intervention exists. Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) is a promising neuroprotective strategy, but defining an effective clinical protocol remains a major challenge in fulfilling its translational potential. We recently discovered that 40 Hz flicker induces extracellular adenosine, a key neurochemical underpinning of IPC, in the visual pathway, suggesting a previously unexplored non-invasive IPC approach. Here, we demonstrated that 3-day 40 Hz flicker preconditioning significantly protected against NAION by reducing retinal ganglion cell loss, preserving ganglion cell layer structure, improving visual function, and attenuating microglial activation. Protect

SUBMITTER: Su L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12932722 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature