Unlocking the potential of vitreous humor in biomarker discovery for Alzheimer's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease-Related Dementias

Comprehensive Summary

In this study, Pytel et al. examined the possibility of using vitreous humor (VH) from the eye as a source for biomarkers for Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and AD-Related Dementias (ADRD). VH was chosen due to its “close anatomical and physiological connection with the central nervous system (CNS).” 133 samples of postmortem VH and blood plasma were obtained and tested for Aβ40, Aβ42, GFAP, and NfL. Concentrations were measured with Simoa Neurology 4-Plex E (N4PE+) Advantage PLUS assay. No specific Artificial Intelligence (AI) programs were stated in the article; however, it was stated that AI was used for predictive modeling, including neural networks, using retrospective and prospective cohorts for predictability. Their results have shown that the four biomarkers listed above are present in the VH of AD and ADRD patients and show potential for early disease detection.

Outcomes and Implications

In terms of future use of these findings, being able to detect AD and ADRD early in life is always a breakthrough. However, being able to obtain vitreous humor would be a challenge in a living person, a procedure that would be invasive. With this being said, it remains undetermined if using vitreous humor would be an effective method to obtain biomarkers for AD and ADRD in the future.