Understanding Alzheimer’s disease in Hong Kong: can regular retinal checkups be used to diagnose, monitor and study disease pathogenesis?

Abstract

Recently, interest in using the retina to represent simple brain neurobiology has increased, particularly in regard to neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. Various laboratories and clinics worldwide are currently evaluating the use of novel techniques to monitor retinal health in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Unfortunately many of these tools are still at the development stage, while others may be unavailable or expensive in the Asia Pacific region, including cities like Hong Kong. In this review we address the current state of Alzheimer’s disease retinal research in Hong Kong, emphasizing the recent literature, the use of Alzheimer’s disease mouse models in retinal/brain research, and the potential implementation of retinal checkups to diagnose and monitor neurodegeneration in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. We believe that the combined efforts of local researchers and clinicians will not only advance our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis in both the brain and retina, but will also enhance the diagnosis and treatment options available for patients with Alzheimer’s disease in Hong Kong.