Recruiting · registry status

Looking for brain-disease clues in eye images

Researchers use detailed images of the retina and its blood vessels to look for markers of conditions affecting brain cells.

Learning by observing or collecting information · Study reference: NCT03233646

Plain-language introduction written with AI from the registry; not independently checked by a clinician. Read the original details below ↓

This registry record was last updated over six months ago, or its update date is missing. Recruitment may have changed. Confirm with the team before making plans.

Open the official registry record ↗

Follow this study

Looking for volunteers

Start (reported actual date): 2017-07-20
Main measurements finished (planned): 2026-12-31
Study finished (planned): 2026-12-31

Planned dates can move. A study finishing does not tell us when a paper will be published.

No results summary has been confirmed in the registry records we imported. See connected papers below; we keep checking after recruitment ends.

Changes we have recorded

2026-10-11 — recruiting

These are dates we observed a change, not necessarily the dates it happened.

Papers connected to this study

Zhao W, Robbins CB, Grewal DS, Patel H, Soundararajan S, Liu AJ, Johnson KG, Agrawal R, Petrella JR, Stinnett SS, Parker D, Fekrat S. Correlating retinal and choroidal vascular parameters with volumetric MRI in Alzheimer's disease and amnestic mild cognitive impairment. BMC Ophthalmol. 2025 Jul 1;25(1):365. doi: 10.1186/s12886-025-04157-x. ↗
Registry derived research reference

Robbins CB, Akrobetu D, Ma JP, Stinnett SS, Soundararajan S, Liu AJ, Johnson KG, Grewal DS, Fekrat S. ASSESSMENT OF RETINAL MICROVASCULAR ALTERATIONS IN INDIVIDUALS WITH AMNESTIC AND NONAMNESTIC MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT USING OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY. Retina. 2022 Jul 1;42(7):1338-1346. doi: 10.1097/IAE.0000000000003458. ↗
Registry derived research reference

Who can join?

Age 18 years and over · Also accepts healthy volunteers

These are starting points, not the full rules. The research team can tell you whether the study is right for your situation.

Read all the rules for taking part

Sex eligibility reported by registry: all

Inclusion Criteria: * Adults with neurodegenerative disease ((MCI, PD, AD, FTD, DLB, ALS, MS, HD, TBI, concussion, PTSD and other neurodegenerations as well as Down Syndrome) * Adults without neurodegenerative disease Exclusion Criteria: * Inability to cooperate with or complete testing or other neurologic or age- related ocular conditions that would impact image acquisition. * Eyes that have had intraocular surgery, other than cataract surgery. If two eyes satisfy the inclusion criteria, both eyes will be included in the study. If one eye satisfies the inclusion criteria, the eye that qualifies will be included in the study.

Full study name & original research details

Official study title

Evaluating the Retinal and Choroidal Microvasculature and Structure Using Multimodal Retinal and Choroidal Imaging in Neurodegenerative Disease: iMIND Research Study

Short title used by the registry

Retinal Imaging in Neurodegenerative Disease

Original description

This study aims to develop and evaluate biomarkers using non-invasive optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) as well as ultra-widefield (UWF) fundus photography to assess the structure and function of the retinal and choroidal microvasculature and structure in persons with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's Disease (AD), Parkinson's Disease (PD), or other neurodegenerative disease, diseases as outlined.

Further description from the registry

Using a multidisciplinary approach, this study aims to yield new insight into the vascular and structural pathophysiology of neurodegenerative disease. The investigators propose to develop and evaluate imaging biomarkers from OCT, OCTA, and UWF fundus photos to assess the structure and function of the retinal and choroidal microvasculature and structure in these individuals. The investigators hypothesize that microvascular and structural network alterations in the retina and choroid may mirror and possibly precede changes in the cerebral microcirculation seen in these neurodegenerative diseases. Using advanced image analysis and machine learning techniques, the investigators aim to evaluate markers of reduced capillary blood flow and non-perfusion in the superficial retinal vascular plexus and choriocapillaris imaged using OCT and OCTA, in a resolution not previously possible, that would complement already established retinal structural markers and increase their sensitivity and specificity in the earlier detection of these neurodegenerative diseases. This study looks to provide a proof of concept for retinal and choroidal imaging-based microvascular and structural biomarkers as an effective screening tool for neurodegenerative disease, particularly during in cognitive aging. The protocol for this study was amended and the record was updated accordingly.

Conditions reported: Alzheimer's Disease; Mild Cognitive Impairment; Parkinson's Disease; Multiple Sclerosis; Huntington Disease; Lewy Body Dementia; Frontotemporal Dementia; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS); APOE-4 Positive; Traumatic Brain Injury; Concussion; Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder; Down Syndrome; Neuro-Degenerative Disease; Normal Cognition

Registry records for this study

Records are joined using registration identifiers. Titles alone do not establish that two studies are the same.

ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT03233646 ↗ — RECRUITING; checked 2026-10-13

Study type: Observational
Interventions: Retinal and Choroidal Imaging
Phases: Not reported
Sponsor: Duke University
Start date reported by registry: 2017-07-20 (actual)

Registry updated: 2026-02-04 · Status last verified by the registry submitter: 2026-02

Registry records retrieved 2026-10-13 (UTC). Individual records may have older updates. Recruitment and eligibility must be confirmed with the study team.

Contact the research team

Public study contacts supplied to the registry. Ask whether recruitment is still open and what participation involves.

Sharon Fekrat, MD FACS FASRS · 919-681-3937 · imind@duke.edu

Study locations

Site status can differ from overall study status. “Status not reported” means local availability needs confirmation. Remote participation and travel arrangements must be checked with the team.

Duke University Medical Center

Durham, North Carolina, United States

Recruiting

Sharon Fekrat, MD FACS FASRS · 919-681-3937 · imind@duke.edu

The original descriptions and participation rules come from the registry. Participation is voluntary and does not guarantee benefit.