COVID, Neuroinflammation & Alzheimer’s: What Eye Imaging Is Showing, with Dr. Sean Miller, Yale, PhD

Guest: Sean Miller, PhD, Yale School of Medicine

In this landmark conversation, research scientist Dr. Sean Miller, PhD joins Pathobiome Perspectives to break down one of the most important — and least discussed — discoveries of the post-pandemic era: COVID-19 can induce Alzheimer’s-related pathology in the nervous system, and those changes can be detected in the retina.

Dr. Sean Miller completed pre-doctoral work at Harvard Medical School, earned his PhD from Johns Hopkins University, and completed post-doctoral training at Stanford University. His research focuses on neurodegeneration, neuroglia, and early diagnostic strategies for Alzheimer’s and related diseases.

At the AlzPI & PCOM Symposium, Dr. Miller presented evidence showing that SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection can accelerate Alzheimer’s-like pathology and that these changes can be detected non-invasively through retinal imaging. His findings suggest that amyloid-beta, a protein long associated with Alzheimer’s disease, may also serve as part of the brain’s antimicrobial defense system—trapping pathogens like a mesh or biofilm, but leading to damaging plaque buildup when overproduced.

Key Discussion Points

Dr. Miller describes how the COVID-19 virus can act as an infectious trigger for neuroinflammation and amyloid buildup, how the eye provides a unique window into the brain, and why early detection is essential to preventing neuron death. He shares how his lab’s AI-enhanced retinal imaging research at Yale Eye Center is identifying amyloid and tau deposits in patients with long COVID-related brain fog—opening the possibility of routine eye exams doubling as early Alzheimer’s screening tools.

He explains potential therapeutic strategies, such as limiting amyloid production during infection flare-ups and enhancing clearance mechanisms afterward to reduce chronic plaque formation. The conversation also explores his scientific journey—from designing Alzheimer’s drugs at Harvard and Johns Hopkins to realizing the need for early disease detection during his postdoc at Stanford—and how the pandemic inspired his focus on infection-induced neurodegeneration.

Why It Matters

Dr. Miller’s research connects infectious disease, ophthalmology, and neurology, providing a revolutionary new method to screen for early Alzheimer’s-like changes non-invasively through the human eye. His work suggests that infections like COVID-19 may trigger the same protective—but damaging—immune responses implicated in chronic conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and infection-associated cognitive decline.

Connect with Dr. Miller:   / sean-j-miller-phd-72471455  

Research:
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/s...
https://beingpatient.com/retina-covid...

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Pathobiome Perspectives was developed in collaboration with the Pathobiome Research Center at PCOM, led by Founding Director Nikki Schultek, and Director Dr. Brian Balin and the Center for Chronic Disorders of Aging (CCDA). This event was made possible through the joint support of these two PCOM Centers!

Learn more about the Pathobiome Research Center at PCOM: https://www.pcom.edu/research/pbrc/
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This content reflects the personal opinions and experiences of Ali Moresco and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment options.
Neither Ali Moresco nor the publishers of this content assume responsibility for any potential health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information provided.