Integrative pathophysiological and psychological strategies for Alzheimer’s and dementia-related disease management

Abstract

As global demographics shift toward an aging population, the urgency for innovative diagnostic tools to address Alzheimer’s and dementia-related diseases (ADR) has never been greater. Current methods often miss the opportunity to capture the nuanced interplay between cognitive decline and emotional health, leaving critical diagnostic gaps. This paper introduces an integrated approach combining advanced retinal imaging through eye-tracking, reaction-retention testing, and the short recovery-stress scale (SRSS) to provide a holistic evaluation and monitoring system of ADR progression. Retinal imaging through eye-tracking captures neurodegenerative biomarkers such as saccadic movements and fixation patterns and offers real-time insights into cognitive processing. Reaction-retention tests directly measure short-term memory and processing speed while the SRSS evaluates emotional states influencing cognitive health and physical capabilities. These modalities deliver a comprehensive cognitive-emotional profile, enabling earlier detection and personalized interventions. By synthesizing data across physiological and psychological domains, this approach addresses the multifaceted nature of ADR, providing clinicians with actionable insights into disease management. These integrative tools also hold promise for scalable applications in routine clinical and home settings, paving the way for enhanced monitoring, tailored therapies, and improved patient outcomes. The proposed framework represents a potential paradigm shift in ADR diagnostics, offering potential extensions to other neurodegenerative conditions, including Parkinson’s disease and traumatic brain injuries.

Keywords

Alzheimer’s disease / Dementia / Neurodegenerative / Biomarkers / Emotion state / Retinal atrophy

Funding

None.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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