Taken together, the disturbances observed may be considered as cognitive symptoms of a chronic fatigue syndrome resulting from the exposure to ionizing radiation. Simple and non-invasive assessments, such as those performed by us, may be helpful to detect early brain changes caused by the presence of radiological risk factors.
Exposure to ionizing radiation (IR) could affect the human brain and eyes leading to both cognitive and visual impairments. The aim of this paper was to review and analyze the current literature, and to comment on the ensuing findings in the light of our personal contributions in this field. The review was carried out according to the PRISMA guidelines by searching PubMed, Scopus, Embase, PsycINFO and Google Scholar English papers published from January 2000 to January 2020. The results showed that prenatally or childhood-exposed individuals are a particular target group with a higher risk for possible radiation effects and neurodegenerative diseases. In adulthood and medical/interventional radiologists, the most frequent IR-induced ophthalmic effects include cataracts, glaucoma, optic neuropathy, retinopathy and angiopathy, sometimes associated with specific neurocognitive deficits. According to available information that eye alterations may induce or may be associated with brain dysfunctions and vice versa, we propose to label this relationship “eye-brain axis”, as well as to deepen the diagnosis of eye pathologies as early and easily obtainable markers of possible low dose IR-induced brain damage.
Background.Exposure to ionizing radiation could affect the brain and eyes leading to cognitive and vision impairment, behavior disorders and performance decrement during professional irradiation at medical radiology, including interventional radiological procedures, long-term space flights, and radiation accidents. Objective. The objective was to analyze the current experimental, epidemiological, and clinical data on the radiation cerebro-ophthalmic effects. Materials and methods. In our analytical review peer-reviewed publications via the bibliographic and scientometric bases PubMed / MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and selected papers from the library catalog of NRCRM – the leading institution in the field of studying the medical effects of ionizing radiation – were used. Results. The probable radiation-induced cerebro-ophthalmic effects in human adults comprise radiation cataracts, radiation glaucoma, radiation-induced optic neuropathy, retinopathies, angiopathies as well as specific neurocognitive deficit in the various neuropsychiatric pathology including cerebrovascular pathology and neurodegenerative diseases. Specific attention is paid to the likely stochastic nature of many of those effects. Those prenatally and in childhood exposed are a particular target group with a higher risk for possible radiation effects and neurodegenerative diseases. Conclusions. The experimental, clinical, epidemiological, anatomical and pathophysiological rationale for visual system and central nervous system (CNS) radiosensitivity is given. The necessity for further international studies with adequate dosimetric support and the follow-up medical and biophysical monitoring of high radiation risk cohorts is justified. The first part of the study currently being published presents the results of the study of the effects of irradiation in the participants of emergency works at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant (ChNPP). Key words: ionizing radiation, cerebroophthalmic effects, neurocognitive deficit, radiation accident, radiation cataracts, macular degeneration.
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