Advanced capabilities of structural and functional neuroimaging in patients with glaucoma
DOI: 10.32364/2311-7729-2025-25-4-7
V.E. Korelina1,2, A.V. Kuroyedov3,4, D.V. Cherednichenko1
1N.P. Bekhtereva Institute of the Human Brain, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
2North Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
3Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russian Federation
4P.V. Mandryka Military Clinical Hospital, Moscow, Russian Federation
Glaucoma is classically considered as an ophthalmological disease and it is characterized by optic nerve atrophy and loss of visual field. However, advanced data confirm that glaucoma is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disease affecting brain areas beyond the visual system. The review is focused on the analysis of literature revealing possibilities of brain neuroimaging in glaucoma patients. Routine structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reveals nonspecific changes in various parts of the visual pathway associated with glaucoma. In contrast, advanced neuroimaging techniques offer new possibilities in diagnosis and monitoring of the glaucoma process. Magnetic resonance morphometry provides quantitative and qualitative assessment of gray matter atrophy both in the visual cortex and beyond. Diffusion tensor imaging methods may detect microstructural damage to white matter associated with axonal damage and destruction of the myelin sheath associated with glaucoma. Various functional neuroimaging techniques (e. g., functional MRI and magnetic resonance spectroscopy) make it possible to assess functional and metabolic state of various parts of the visual pathway and have a high potential in determining brain abnormalities in patients with glaucoma. A multimodal approach integrating structural and functional MRI data with clinical ophthalmological ones significantly expands understanding of glaucoma as a neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system and opens up new prospects for early diagnosis, biomarker identification and future development of targeted therapy.
Keywords: glaucoma, neurodegeneration, neuroimaging, diffusion tensor imaging, tractography, tractometry, functional magnetic resonance imaging, functional brain networks, demyelination.
For citation: Korelina V.E., Kuroyedov A.V., Cherednichenko D.V. Advanced capabilities of structural and functional neuroimaging in patients with glaucoma. Russian Journal of Clinical Ophthalmology. 2025;25(4):273–278 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.32364/2311-7729-2025-25-4-7
About the authors:
Victoria E. Korelina — C. Sc. (Med.), Ophthalmologist, Assistant Professor of the Department of Educational
Programs, N.P. Bekhtereva Institute of the Human Brain; 9, Academician Pavlov str., St. Petersburg, 197376, Russian Federation; Assistant Professor of the Department of Family Medicine, North Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov; 41, Kirochnaya str., St. Petersburg, 191015, Russian Federation; ORCID iD 0000-0003-2022-5912
Alexander V. Kuroyedov — Dr. Sc. (Med.), Head of the Academician A.P. Nesterov Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University; 1, Ostrovityanov str., Moscow, 117997, Russian Federation; Head of the Ophthalmological Center (with a Day Hospital), P.V. Mandryka Military Clinical Hospital; 8A, Bolshaya Olenya str., Moscow, 107014, Russian Federation; ORCID iD 0000-0001-9606-0566
Denis V. Cherednichenko — Dr. Sc. (Med.), the First Deputy Director of N.P. Bekhtereva Institute of the Human Brain; 9, Academician Pavlov str., St. Petersburg, 197376, Russian Federation; ORCID iD 0000-0002-8957-8970
Contact information: Victoria E. Korelina, e-mail: viktoriakorelinanana@gmail.com
Financial Disclosure: no authors have a financial or property interest in any material or method mentioned.
There is no conflict of interest.
Received 15.08.2025.
Revised 09.09.2025.
Accepted 02.10.2025.
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