Alzheimer’s Disease: Do the “Eyes” Really Have It?

Alzheimer’s is primarily a disease of the brain, although there is a correlation between retinal pathology and Alzheimer’s, as patients often exhibit poor vision and other visual signs of impairment. Diabetes, while an entirely different disease on the surface, is better known for its effect on the eye as well. Detailed comprehensive eye examinations are essential for all diabetic patients and, if left unchecked, diabetic retinopathy could lead to blindness.

Interestingly, the brain and the eye have similar anatomical vascular barrier structures referred to respectively as the blood-brain and blood-retina barriers. Of note is that vascular pathological factors, such as hypertension, stroke, and high cholesterol, are common in both Alzheimer’s and diabetes.