BRAIN AND EYE AS POTENTIAL TARGETS FOR IONIZING RADIATION IMPACT. Part І. THE CONSEQUENCES OF IRRADIATION OF THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE LIQUIDATION OF THE CHORNOBYL ACCIDENT

Abstract

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.