Physiological and Pathological Changes of the Retina Associated With Ageing

With the increase in life expectancy seen in the last century, survival to older ages has become more common worldwide. However, this has also imposed a major socioeconomic and public health challenge due to the growing incidence of age-related conditions. Aging is a major risk factor for several sight-threatening diseases affecting the retina, as well as for neurodegenerative conditions of the Central Nervous System (CNS) that may impact retinal structure and function.

This Research Topic in Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience aims to bring together the latest research on the physiological and pathological effects of retinal aging. We encourage the submission of studies on biomarkers, new therapeutic targets, and on the cellular and molecular mechanism underpinning retinal aging in health and disease (e.g., age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma). We also welcome studies where retina pathology may be the result of age-related neurodegenerative conditions that may not only affect the eye (e.g., Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Lewy’s Body, frontotemporal dementia, and Huntington’s disease). These studies should focus on the effects of age-related diseases on the retina, rather than the CNS, and provide mechanistic insights and investigations into the potential of retina imaging for reflecting the progression of these diseases with aging.

We welcome authors to submit Original Research, Reviews, Mini-Review, Hypothesis and Theories, Perspectives, and Opinion articles, involving:

- Aging in specific retinal cell populations and their impact on ocular pathophysiology, including neurons, vasculature, glia (microglia, astrocytes, Muller cells), and retinal pigmented epithelial cells.

- The use of emerging technologies (optogenetics, gene editing, advanced imaging, etc) aimed at understanding retinal ageing and/or developing new therapeutic approaches targeting its molecular pathways.

- How the use of experimental models and technology can help in the advancement of this exciting field. This may include in vivo models of genetically amenable species (rodents, zebrafish, Drosophila, C. elegans), ex-vivo systems (organoids, Organs-on-chips, 3D & 2D cultures), and in silico modeling (Artificial Intelligence and databases).

Keywords: retina, visual function, glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, Alzheimer, Parkinson disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, ageing

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.