Electrophysiological and psychophysical evaluation of visual functions: a comparative study in Alzheimer's disease, glaucomatous neuropathy and age-related macular degeneration

• Grant number: 15/22227-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): December 01, 2015
• Effective date (End): March 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Psychology - Experimental Psychology
• Principal Investigator: Dora Selma Fix Ventura
• Grantee: Kallene Summer Moreira Vidal
• Host Institution: Instituto de Psicologia (IP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 14/26818-2 - Development and implementation of visual evaluation methods: clinical applications and animal models, AP.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 17/01367-6 - Functional images of the retina: using electroretinography to investigate the pathophysiology of glaucoma, BE.EP.PD

Abstract

The loss of visual function appears to be the earliest sign in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and has characteristics similar to other neurodegenerative diseases such as glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It is likely that specific changes in magnocelular pathway are responsible for the pathophysiological mechanisms in glaucoma and AD diseases. As the relationship between AD and AMD, there are similarities in the pathogenesis of both diseases, such as cellular changes caused by oxidative stress and changes in lysosomal function leading to the accumulation of protein aggregates in plaques in the brain and in drusen on the retina in AD and AMD respectively . Therefore, this study is relevant to better understanding the relationship of AD and other neurodegenerative eye diseases such as glaucoma and AMD. In addition, studies to assess the visual system in a standardized way through different psychophysical and electrophysiological tests can be a useful tool for early detection of AD. The objective of this study is to evaluate visual functions such as contrast sensitivity, color vision, dark adaptation and pattern of electrophysiological responses of the retina and the visual cortex in patients with AD, mild cognitive impairment, glaucoma and AMD disease. Patients will be selected from the Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo and Ophthalmology Center of Prevent Senior. In this way, we hope that the knowledge of loss of visual function assessed by electrophysiology and psychophysics can be an early detection tool of AD, and that these assessments can be taken in a standardized way by the ophthalmologist in clinical practice, thus contributing to a better quality of life of AD patients. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

SALGUEIRO BARBONI, MIRELLA TELLES; DIAS, SARAH LEONARDO; SILVA, LEONARDO APARECIDO; DAMICO, FRANCISCO MAX; VIDAL, KALLENE SUMMER; COSTA, MARCELO FERNANDES; NAGY, BALAZS VINCE; KREMERS, JAN; VENTURA, DORA FIX. Correlations Between Dark-Adapted Rod Threshold Elevations and ERG Response Deficits in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE, v. 62, n. 4, APR 2021. (14/26818-2, 17/16948-4, 15/22227-2, 16/04538-3)

K.S. VIDAL; C.K. SUEMOTO; A.B. MORENO; B. DUNCAN; M.I. SCHMIDT; M. MAESTRI; S.M. BARRETO; P.A. LOTUFO; L. BERTOLA; I.M. BENSENOR; et al. Association between cognitive performance and self-reported glaucoma in middle-aged and older adults: a cross-sectional analysis of ELSA-Brasil. Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research, v. 53, n. 12, 2020-10-30. (15/22227-2)

SALGUEIRO BARBONI, MIRELLA TELLES; BUENO, CLARISSA; NAGY, BALAZS VINCE; MAIA, PATRICIA LOBO; MOREIRA VIDAL, KALLENE SUMMER; ALVES, ROSANA CARDOSO; REITER, RUSSEL J.; DO AMARAL, FERNANDA GASPAR; CIPOLLA-NETO, JOSE; VENTURA, DORA FIX. Melanopsin System Dysfunction in Smith-Magenis Syndrome Patients. INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE, v. 59, n. 1, p. 362-369, JAN 2018. (14/26818-2, 14/50457-0, 14/06457-5, 15/22227-2, 16/04538-3, 16/22007-5)