Retinal Scans Could Predict Alzheimer’s Risk, New AI Study Finds
A study published on June 16 in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease has revealed that photographs of the retina may be able to predict risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease.
The Research
Researchers led by Ruogu Fang, Ph.D., at the University of Florida utilized machine learning to analyze retinal images from over 40,000 patients in a UK database. The AI model successfully identified specific retinal regions—including arterial and optical nerve characteristics—linked to Alzheimer’s risk.
Key Findings
The AI model accurately predicted biological traits (e.g., sex, blood pressure) and lifestyle factors (e.g., smoking, alcohol use, insomnia) that are known to contribute to Alzheimer’s development.
A Low-Cost Screening Tool
The study suggests retinal imaging may offer a low-cost, objective method to detect cumulative risk for Alzheimer’s disease. This approach could enable earlier intervention, potentially improving patient outcomes.
Support
The work was supported in part by the National Science Foundation.