Elsevier

Ophthalmology

Volume 97, Issue 1, January 1990, Pages 9-17
Ophthalmology

Optic Nerve Damage in Alzheimer's Disease+,++

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0161-6420(90)32621-0Get rights and content

Abstract

Optic nerves from ten patients with Alzheimer's disease were histologically examined and compared with those from age-matched controls. Specific and nonspecific measures of degeneration were noted in eight of ten Alzheimer's disease optic nerves; no degeneration was noted in any of the controls. Results of histologic examination of the retinas of one eye of three Alzheimer's disease patients also showed degeneration of retinal ganglion cells and their axons in the nerve fiber layer. Morphometric analysis suggested that in many cases of Alzheimer's disease, the optic nerve showed predominant loss of the largest class of retinal ganglion cells (M-cells) that contribute large caliber fibers to the optic nerve. The M-cell system is known to mediate specific visual functions, and selective involvement of the M-cell population leads to clinically measurable neuro-ophthalmic and psychophysical impairments in many Alzheimer's disease patients.

References (24)

  • T Kemper

    Neuroanatomical and neuropathological changes in normal aging and in dementia

  • DR Hinton et al.

    Optic-nerve degeneration in Alzheimer's disease

    N Engl J Med

    (1986)
  • Cited by (306)

    View all citing articles on Scopus
    +

    Presented at the American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, October 1988.

    ++

    Supported in part by a grant from the State of California, Department of Health Services (Dr. Sadun) and National Institutes of Health EY05894 (Dr. Sadun), and an RPB James Adams Scholar Award (Dr. Sadun).

    View full text