Profile
I am an ophthalmologist conducting research at the intersection of eye care and neuroscience. My work combines clinical ophthalmology practice with research investigating how eye health relates to systemic and neurological conditions. I use health data analytics and causal inference methods to better understand these connections.
Background
Education
M.D., Ph.D. in Neuroscience
Specialist in Ophthalmology
Click for more details on education, academic positions, and clinical experience
Education Details
- M.D., University of Copenhagen
- Ph.D. in Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen
- B.Sc. in Medicine, University of Copenhagen
Previous Academic Positions
- Postdoctoral Researcher
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen
- Research visit: Visual Attention Lab, Harvard University and Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Ph.D. Fellow
- Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology
- Research visit: New York Eye and Ear Infirmary
- Center for Healthy Aging
Clinical Experience
- Specialist Training in Ophthalmology
- Zealand University Hospital
- Rigshospitalet (Glostrup)
- Rigshospitalet (Blegdamsvej)
- Clinical Fellow Positions
- Public Health Medicine, Copenhagen
- Neurosurgery, Rigshospitalet
- Spine Surgery at Spine Center
- Cranial Surgery at Department of Neurosurgery
Research Focus
My primary interest lies in exploring the bidirectional relationship between ocular and cerebral diseases:
- Examining how conditions such as glaucoma can be both a consequence and an early predictor of broader neurovascular changes.
- Leveraging national health registries to investigate the link between eye disease and dementia, highlighting shared neurodegenerative and vascular pathways.
- Applying advanced causal inference techniques (e.g., regression discontinuity design) to large-scale observational health data, disentangling correlation from causation in epidemiological research.
- Assessing systemic medications (e.g., antihypertensives, GLP-1 receptor agonists) for their effects on both ocular and cognitive health.
My ongoing project, “Eye Disease and Dementia,” leverages 20 years of Danish national health data and shows that individuals with ophthalmic conditions face a higher risk of dementia, supporting eye disease as a potential early marker of cognitive decline.
Selected Publications
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Association between Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists and the Risk of Glaucoma in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes
S Niazi, F Gnesin, AS Thein, JR Andreasen, A Horwitz, ZA Mouhammad, BN Jawad, Z Niazi, N Pourhadi, B Zareini, A Meaidi
Ophthalmology, 2024. -
Inferring glaucoma status from prescriptions, diagnoses, and operations data: A Danish nationwide study
A Horwitz, M Klemp, J Rovelt, H Horwitz, C Torp-Pedersen, M Kolko
PLOS One, 18(12), e0292439, 2023. -
Risk of central serous chorioretinopathy in male androgen abusers
Y Subhi, J Windfeld-Mathiasen, A Horwitz, H Horwitz
Ophthalmology and Therapy, 12(2), 1073-1080, 2023. -
Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists–potential game changers in the treatment of glaucoma?
ZA Mouhammad, R Vohra, A Horwitz, AS Thein, J Rovelt, B Cvenkel, PA Williams, A Azuara-Blanco, M Kolko
Frontiers in Neuroscience, 16, 824054, 2022. -
Glaucoma and cardioprotective medication
A Horwitz, M Klemp, J Andreasen, H Horwitz, J Freiberg, C Torp‐Pedersen, M Kolko
(Forthcoming publication; details to be updated) -
Antihypertensive Medication Postpones the Onset of Glaucoma
A Horwitz, M Klemp, J Jeppesen, JC Tsai, C Torp-Pedersen, M Kolko
Hypertension, 69(2), 202–210, 2017.
Additional Publications
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Acta Ophthalmologica, 100, 2022, Drug-induced optic neuropathy
A Horwitz, H Horwitz
Adverse Drug Reaction Bulletin, 334(1), 1295-1298, 2022. -
Male fertility before and after androgen abuse
J Windfeld-Mathiasen, KP Dalhoff, JT Andersen, M Klemp, A Horwitz, H Horwitz
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 106(2), 442-449, 2021. -
Betaxolol Ophthalmic Solution as Alternative Treatment for Patients with Timolol Allergy: A Case Report
O Müllertz, J Jacobsen, JP Thyssen, A Horwitz, M Kolko
Reports, 3(3), 21, 2020. -
Brain Responses to Passive Sensory Stimulation Correlate With Intelligence
A Horwitz, M Klemp, H Horwitz, M D Thomsen, E Rostrup, E L Mortensen, M Osler, M Lauritzen, K Benedek
Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 11, 2019. -
EEG correlates of visual short-term memory in older age vary with adult lifespan cognitive development
I Wiegand, MJ Lauritzen, M Osler, EL Mortensen, E Rostrup, L Rask, N Richard, A Horwitz, K Benedek, S Vangkilde, A Petersen
Neurobiology of Aging, 62, 210-220, 2018. -
Passive Double-Sensory Evoked Coherence Correlates with Long-Term Memory Capacity
A Horwitz, EL Mortensen, M Osler, B Fagerlund, M Lauritzen, K Benedek
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 11, 2017. -
The Prognosis Following Amphetamine Poisoning
H Horwitz, K Dalhoff, M Klemp, A Horwitz, J Andersen, G Jürgens
Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 45, 773-781, 2017. -
Visual steady state in relation to age and cognitive function
A Horwitz, MD Thomsen, I Wiegand, H Horwitz, M Klemp, M Nikolic, L Rask, M Lauritzen, K Benedek
PLOS One, 12(2), e0171859, 2017. -
Danish nationwide data reveal a link between diabetes mellitus, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma
A Horwitz, BÉ Petrovski, C Torp-Pedersen, M Kolko
Journal of Diabetes Research, 2016. -
The prevalence and incidence of glaucoma in Denmark in a fifteen-year period: A nationwide study
A Horwitz*, M Kolko*, J Thygesen, J Jeppesen, C Torp-Pedersen (*Shared first authorship)
PLOS One, 10(7), e0132048, 2015. -
Screening for celiac disease in Danish adults
A Horwitz, T Skaaby, LL Kårhus, P Schwarz, T Jørgensen, JJ Rumessen, A Linneberg
Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, 50(7), 824-831, 2015. -
Predictor of severity and long distance outcome of patients with critical illness myopathy and polyneuropathy
A Jelinek, A Horwitz, H Piilgaard, M Lauritzen, K Benedek
Clinical Neurophysiology, S25, 2014. -
Politics and policies
A Horwitz, H Horwitz
Journal of Insurance Medicine (New York, NY), 44(1), 49-52, 2013. -
Patient information leaflets seen through the eyes of patients in a general practice
A Horwitz, L Reuther, SE Andersen
Danish Medical Journal (Ugeskrift for Læger), 171(8), 599–602, 2009.
Research Presentations
I have presented my research at numerous international and national conferences (2011-2019), including:
- European Association for Vision and Eye Research
- European Congress of Clinical Neurophysiology
- European Glaucoma Society
- Lancet Neurology Conference
These presentations have covered various aspects of my research in ophthalmology, neuroscience, and epidemiology, helping to disseminate findings and foster collaborative relationships within the research community.
Contact & Professional Profiles
For further information, collaborative inquiries, or any questions about my work, please reach out:
Email: [email protected]
Professional Profiles: