Neuroprotective influence of macular xanthophylls and retinal integrity on cognitive function among persons with multiple sclerosis.

Background: No studies to date have examined if macular xanthophyll accumulation and retinal integrity are independently associated with cognitive function in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). This study explored whether macular xanthophyll accumulation and structural morphometry in the retina were associated with behavioral performance and neuroelectric function during a computerized cognitive task among persons with MS and healthy controls (HCs).

Methods: 42 HCs and 42 individuals with MS aged 18-64 years were enrolled.

Macular Xanthophylls and Markers of the Anterior Visual Pathway among Persons with Multiple Sclerosis.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) can cause retinal thinning among persons with MS with optic neuritis (MS-ON). Macular xanthophylls are carotenoids that comprise the macular pigment, filtering blue light and countering photo-oxidation. However, macular xanthophyll status and its implications for markers of neuroaxonal degeneration have not been examined in MS.