About this Research Topic
The retina (and/or the optic nerve) is the only part of the central nervous system (CNS) that is directly visible through ophthalmic examinations. It has been shown that in many neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), multiple sclerosis (MS), and cerebrovascular disorders, there are disease-associated pathological or subclinical changes in the retina. Retinal changes may correlate with the severity of brain pathology and reflect the same pathogenesis. For anatomical reasons, ocular changes are more easily observable and measurable than cerebral changes. The eye might therefore provide a better means of assessing/monitoring disease progression and investigating the mechanisms of neurological disorders.
While numerous studies have suggested potential changes in the retina in neurological diseases, the results to date are not very consistent. For example, several studies have demonstrated thinning of retinal layers in AD, but a limitation of these studies lies in the lack of a standardized imaging protocol and patient inclusion criteria, making it difficult to compare results from different groups. In addition, the mechanisms of retinal changes in neurological diseases remain poorly understood. Taking MS as an example, while retinal atrophy has been well documented in the disease, whether this change is a result of primary neuroinflammation in the tissue per se or rather a retrograde neurodegenerative effect along the visual pathway, remains controversial. It is equally possible that both these mechanisms may play a role in MS-related retinal pathology, but the relative contribution of these processes is not known. Therefore, the aim of this Research Topic collection is to provide a platform for researchers to communicate new findings in this field and to collaborate through multidisciplinary approaches to help understand the mechanisms of retinal changes in neurological diseases.
We aim to collect a broad range of studies in this Research Topic (preliminary but novel/breakthrough findings will also be considered). Both experimental studies and clinical investigations are welcome; We will accept both original research and review articles. The scope of this Research Topic includes, but is not limited to, the following aspects:
• Neurological diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Multiple sclerosis, Stroke, Motor neuron disorders, and other neurodegenerative, neuroinflammatory or cerebrovascular disorders.
• Retinal changes may include molecular, metabolic, vascular, and functional changes, etc.
• Research approaches may include animal modeling, cellular studies, functional/electrophysiological recordings, imaging (eg. optical coherence tomography), and histological/pathological investigations.
While numerous studies have suggested potential changes in the retina in neurological diseases, the results to date are not very consistent. For example, several studies have demonstrated thinning of retinal layers in AD, but a limitation of these studies lies in the lack of a standardized imaging protocol and patient inclusion criteria, making it difficult to compare results from different groups. In addition, the mechanisms of retinal changes in neurological diseases remain poorly understood. Taking MS as an example, while retinal atrophy has been well documented in the disease, whether this change is a result of primary neuroinflammation in the tissue per se or rather a retrograde neurodegenerative effect along the visual pathway, remains controversial. It is equally possible that both these mechanisms may play a role in MS-related retinal pathology, but the relative contribution of these processes is not known. Therefore, the aim of this Research Topic collection is to provide a platform for researchers to communicate new findings in this field and to collaborate through multidisciplinary approaches to help understand the mechanisms of retinal changes in neurological diseases.
We aim to collect a broad range of studies in this Research Topic (preliminary but novel/breakthrough findings will also be considered). Both experimental studies and clinical investigations are welcome; We will accept both original research and review articles. The scope of this Research Topic includes, but is not limited to, the following aspects:
• Neurological diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Multiple sclerosis, Stroke, Motor neuron disorders, and other neurodegenerative, neuroinflammatory or cerebrovascular disorders.
• Retinal changes may include molecular, metabolic, vascular, and functional changes, etc.
• Research approaches may include animal modeling, cellular studies, functional/electrophysiological recordings, imaging (eg. optical coherence tomography), and histological/pathological investigations.
Keywords: Neurodegeneration, Retina, Optic nerve, Alzheimer’s disease, Multiple sclerosis
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
