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Optical Coherence Tomography Reveals Retinal Neuroaxonal Thinning in Frontotemporal Dementia as in Alzheimer's Disease
Ferrari L, Huang SC, Magnani G, Ambrosi A, Comi G, Leocani L.. Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD, 2017-01-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Background Alzheimer's disease (AD) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are leading causes of cognitive decline. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) allows the measurement of thickness of retinal neuroaxonal layers. While in AD and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thinning is frequently reported, less information is available on ganglion cell layer-inner plexiform layer (GCL-IPL).
Key findings
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT) allows the measurement of thickness of retinal neuroaxonal layers.
- While in AD and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thinning is frequently reported, less information is available on ganglion cell layer-inner plexiform layer (GCL-IPL).
- Objective To obtain cross-sectional information on RNFL and GCL-IPL thickness among MCI, AD, FTD, and healthy controls (HC), and their correlations with dementia severity.
- Methods Peripapillary OCT scans were obtained in 27 MCI, 39 AD, 17 FTD, 49 HC using high-definition Heidelberg Spectral-domain OCT, with RNFL and GCL-IPL thickness measurement.
Why it matters
This cross-sectional study used optical coherence tomography to compare retinal layer thickness in people with mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia and healthy controls. It examines a possible measurement of retinal changes, not a treatment or cure.
Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 49/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a snapshot of people at one point in time. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Journal of Alzheimer s Disease: journal h-index 218 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 4 / 12 | A snapshot of people at one point in time |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2017 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 131 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 11.9 citations a year over 11 year(s) since 2017 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 9.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 6 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 36 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Letizia Leocani: h-index 62 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele: institution h-index 731 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 28106555) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 49 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Ferrari, L., Huang, S. C., Magnani, G., Ambrosi, A., Comi, G., & Leocani, L. (2017). Optical Coherence Tomography Reveals Retinal Neuroaxonal Thinning in Frontotemporal Dementia as in Alzheimer's Disease. Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD. https://doi.org/10.3233/jad-160886
Vancouver
Ferrari L, Huang SC, Magnani G, Ambrosi A, Comi G, Leocani L. Optical Coherence Tomography Reveals Retinal Neuroaxonal Thinning in Frontotemporal Dementia as in Alzheimer's Disease. Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD. 2017. doi:10.3233/jad-160886. PMID: 28106555.
BibTeX
@article{ferrari2017-28106555,
author = {Ferrari, L. and Huang, S. C. and Magnani, G. and Ambrosi, A. and Comi, G. and Leocani, L.},
title = {{Optical Coherence Tomography Reveals Retinal Neuroaxonal Thinning in Frontotemporal Dementia as in Alzheimer's Disease}},
journal = {Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD},
year = {2017},
doi = {10.3233/jad-160886},
pmid = {28106555},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3233/jad-160886}
}
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