Electroretinography as a non-invasive biomarker for early detection of cognitive impairment in older adults: A scoping review protocol

26 Jun 20264 min read0 viewsJournal Feed

GIST (Key Takeaways)

by Isaiah Osei Duah Junior, Katelyn JeNay Houston, Danielle S. Rodriguez, Cassandra M.
Germain Cognitive decline and dementia represent a growing global health challenge with an urgent need for accessible biomarkers to support early detection, monitoring, and timely intervention, particularly among marginalized populations who face persistent barriers to equitable access to specialized diagnostic and neurological care. Electroretinography (ERG), a non-invasive measure of retinal electrophysiological activity, has emerged as a potential visual biomarker given the retina’s structural and functional homology with the brain.
Preliminary studies suggest associations between ERG abnormalities and cognitive impairment; however, the existing evidence base is limited and lacks sufficient consistency and integration to draw clear, definitive conclusions. The primary aim of this scoping review is to systematically characterize and synthesize existing evidence on the utility and efficacy of ERG as a visual biomarker of cognitive change and cognitive status in adults 50 years and over and identify research gaps.

Clinical Editorial

Summary

PLOS ONE (Medicine) published a clinical update in Research Highlights on 26 Jun 2026.

The item focuses on Electroretinography as a non-invasive biomarker for early detection of cognitive impairment in older adults: A scoping review protocol.

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