Glaucoma impairs structural and functional integrity of the hypothalamus.

Motivation: Glaucoma leads to degeneration of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells, which connect to the hypothalamus —a brain region that controls key risk factors such as eye and blood pressures. Yet, whether glaucoma impairs the hypothalamus remains uncertain. Goal(s): To investigate whether glaucoma involves structural or functional impairments in the hypothalamus. Approach: Using structural and functional MRI, we segmented the hypothalamus into five subregions. We then measured the volume and visually-induced activity from each subregion. Results: The results reveal that specific hypothalamic subregions show reduced volume and functional impairments in glaucoma in association with clinical ophthalmic and physiological measures. Impact: Our findings highlight the potential role of hypothalamic impairment in glaucoma, suggesting that structural and functional changes in this brain region may be associated with the regulation of intraocular pressure and blood flow —key factors that could influence disease progression.