Optical coherence tomography in the diagnosis of primary neurodegenerative diseases

Background Currently, the priority is the early diagnosis of dementia, which is due to an increase in the life expectancy of the population. In connection with the improvement of criteria of Alzheimer's disease on the basis of which a diagnosis is made only when severe cognitive deficit, prevented the diagnosis of documentah stages, although a neurodegenerative process is started before the onset of clinical symptoms, which should be treated with medications. Recently, the world community has been focused on identifying new predictors of cognitive deficits, as such, scientists ' hopes are focused on optical coherence tomography. Method 90 patients were examined and divided into 3 groups: the first group included patients with Alzheimer's disease (NINCDS ADRDA), the second group included patients with vascular dementia(NINDS‐AIREN), and the third group ‐ patients with open‐angle glaucoma. The groups were comparable by gender, age, and baseline socioeconomic status. All patients underwent a comprehensive neurological and neuropsychological examination, as well as optical coherence tomography. Result According to the results of OCT in the area of the optic disc, no statistically significant differences in the width of the neuroretinal margin were found in the groups. The results of OCT in the macular region revealed a decrease in the retinal thickness and inner plexiform layer in the upper and lower quadrants and bilateral region, as well as reducing the thickness of the nerve fibers of the ganglion layer in a lower quadrant and bilateral region in groups of AD and glaucoma, compared with SoD group (p