Identification of Comorbidities and Genomic Associations of Biochemically Analogous Retinal and Brain Tissues Using Bioinformatics Approaches

The human retina and brain share similar biochemical compositions, primarily containing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acid crucial to neurological functions. Scientific reports indicate that DHA is essential for brain and retinal development, aging, memory formation, synaptic membrane function, photoreceptor biogenesis, and neuroprotection. Epidemiologic studies suggest that diets rich in DHA can slow cognitive impairments, aid in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, and promote ocular health. In this study, we identified comorbidities and genomic associations between retinal and brain tissues using bioinformatics approaches. This involved several key steps: data collection, bioinformatic analysis, comorbidity identification, and studying genomic associations. The project aimed to investigate the connection between retinal and brain disorders by examining altered genetic compositions using automated mutation discovery platforms such as DisGeNET, Cytoscape, and Karyosoft. The hypothesis is that similar biochemical compositions will lead to commonalities in genetic variations and phenotypic expressions. The data helped to understand genomic diseases affecting both the retina and the brain, such as Alzheimer’s disease and age-related macular degeneration.