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Abnormal pattern electroretinogram in Alzheimer's disease: Evidence for retinal ganglion cell degeneration?
Author(s) -
Katz Barrett,
Rimmer Steve,
Iragui Vicente,
Katzman Robert
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
annals of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.764
H-Index - 296
eISSN - 1531-8249
pISSN - 0364-5134
DOI - 10.1002/ana.410260207
Subject(s) - electroretinography , retinal , alzheimer's disease , ophthalmology , optic nerve , medicine , retina , neuroscience , retinal ganglion cell , erg , eye disease , degenerative disease , audiology , disease , psychology , pathology
We recorded pattern‐reversal electroretinograms, flash electroretinograms, pattern‐reversal visual evoked potentials, and flash visual evoked potentials in 6 patients with clinically diagnosed Alzheimer's disease and 6 age and sex matched control subjects. The mean amplitude of the pattern‐reversal electroretinogram in the Alzheimer patients was significantly less than that of the control group ( p = 0.004). This anomaly of the pattern‐reversal electroretinogram may be a reflection of documented axonal depletion within the optic nerve and the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells seen in Alzheimer's disease. We found Alzheimer patients to have normal pattern‐reversal visual evoked potentials and flash electroretinograms, but a delayed second positive component of the flash visual evoked potential. This combination of findings may be of diagnostic import in Alzheimers disease.