New collaborative project will examine whether retinal imaging can identify biomarkers of brain aging and dementia in African populations
The retina may provide researchers with a unique window into brain health. As an extension of the brain, the retina shares developmental origins, neuronal structures and microvascular characteristics with the brain. Because the retina can be examined through noninvasive imaging, researchers are exploring whether retinal images can reveal signs of neurological disease.
Previous research by Cecilia S. Lee, MD, MS, and Aaron Lee, MD, MSCI, at WashU Medicine has demonstrated that retinal images can identify biomarkers associated with systemic brain diseases, including dementia and other neurodegenerative conditions. However, much of this research has been conducted in the United States and Europe, meaning existing datasets largely represent populations of European ancestry.
Whether retinal imaging can identify biomarkers of brain disease across diverse global populations remains an important unanswered question.
Expanding Retinal Imaging Research to Africa
To help address this gap, Lee and Takeshi Yoshimatsu, PhD, are leading a new collaborative project with BioRTC, a research center in Nigeria that Yoshimatsu co-founded.
The project will leverage the ongoing SAHEL Study — the Study of Ancestry, Health, Environment, and Late-Life Neurodegeneration — to collect high-quality retinal imaging data alongside genetic, environmental and clinical information related to brain aging and dementia in African populations.
By studying these factors together, the researchers hope to better understand the relationship between retinal changes and brain health and determine whether retinal imaging technologies developed in other populations can be applied across diverse global populations.
Building a More Complete Picture of Brain Health
The need for this research is particularly important as dementia prevalence is expected to increase substantially in Africa. Despite this growing need, retinal imaging data associated with neurodegenerative disease remain limited in African populations.
Including African populations in retinal imaging research could help researchers identify whether known retinal biomarkers are consistent across populations or whether additional biomarkers may be needed.
Ultimately, the project could contribute to a broader understanding of how the eye reflects changes in the aging brain and help advance research into accessible, noninvasive approaches for studying neurodegenerative disease.
“A simple, noninvasive image of the eye could one day reveal early signs of dementia, and this project will test whether that promise extends to populations worldwide, including in Africa.”
Takeshi Yoshimatsu, PhD