Introduction: Retinal vascular network changes may reflect the integrity of the cerebral microcirculation, and may be associated with cognitive impairment.
Methods: Associations of retinal vascular measures with cognitive function and MRI biomarkers were examined amongst Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) participants in North Carolina who had gradable retinal photographs at Exams 2 (2002 to 2004, n = 313) and 5 (2010 to 2012, n = 306), and detailed cognitive testing and MRI at Exam 6 (2016 to 2018).
Results: After adjustment for covariates and multiple comparisons, greater arteriolar fractal dimension (FD) at Exam 2 was associated with less isotropic free water of gray matter regions (β = -0.0005, SE = 0.0024, p = 0.01) at Exam 6, while greater arteriolar FD at Exam 5 was associated with greater gray matter cortical volume (in mm , β = 5458, SE = 20.17, p = 0.04) at Exam 6.
Conclusion: Greater arteriolar FD, reflecting greater complexity of the branching pattern of the retinal arteries, is associated with MRI biomarkers indicative of less neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/alz.13498 | DOI Listing |
Drug Deliv Transl Res
January 2025
Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Ezequiel Dias Foundation, Rua Conde Pereira Carneiro 80, Gameleira, Belo Horizonte, CEP 30510-010, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Current treatments for retinal disorders are anti-angiogenic agents, laser photocoagulation, and photodynamic therapies. These conventional treatments focus on reducing abnormal blood vessel formation in the retina, which, in a low-oxygen environment, can lead to harmful proliferation of endothelial cells. This results in dysfunctional, leaky blood vessels that cause retinal edema, hemorrhage, and vision loss.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlzheimers Dement
December 2024
Indiana University School of Medicine, Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Department of Neurology, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
Background: Diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) via MRI is costly and can be limited by regional availability. With the recent advancements and discovery of amyloid in the retina, diagnosis of AD and the effect of AD pathology on the retina is becoming well characterized. However, the prevalence of vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) and its effects on the retina are less well known.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlzheimers Dement
December 2024
The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Background: An imbalance between the production and clearance of amyloid beta (Aß) has emerged as a major cause of sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD). Retinal wholemount studies can identify cell-specific involvement in Aß clearance mechanisms which cannot be accomplished in the brain ex vivo.
Methods: Eye cross-sections of double transgenic (Tg, APP-PS1) and non-carrier sibling female mice (n = 16, 4 per group) at 3- and 9- month ages were probed with antibodies 6E10 (Aβ1-16 amino-acid residues, soluble and insoluble species), ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (IBA1, microglia/macrophage), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP, astrocytes), glutamine synthetase (GS, Müller cells) and aquaporin-4 (AQP4, membrane water channel) using immunofluorescence.
Alzheimers Dement
December 2024
The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME, USA.
Background: Mechanisms driving cerebrovascular decline during Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) are poorly understood. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is an enzyme in the folate/methionine pathway. Variants in MTHFR, notably 677C>T, are associated with ADRD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlzheimers Dement
December 2024
University of Milano - Bicocca, Monza, Monza, Italy, iCAB International Network, University of Milano - Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
ARIA-E/H (amyloid-related imaging abnormalities-Edema/Hemorrhage) is an umbrella term that defines the radiographic appearance of MRI images abnormality during treatments with Aβ-lowering monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for Alzheimer's disease immunotherapy. Today, it is well-recognized that ARIA-E events can also occur spontaneously in patients with cerebral amyloid angiopathy-related inflammation (CAA-ri), a rare autoimmune encephalopathy associated with raised cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of spontaneous auto-antibodies against Aβ (aAbs). In this framework, the last years of research and experience of the iCAB international Network generated an increased consensus that therapy-induced ARIA is the iatrogenic manifestation of CAA-ri.
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