Background: To elucidate the biological mechanisms underpinning the association between macular Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer (RNFL) thickness and cognitive function in older adults, this study investigates its correlation with brain volume and cortical thickness.
Method: From a community-dwelling prospective cohort, we included 166 non-demented participants aged over 65 years (mean age 75.2 ± 5.3; 61.4% women) who had 3D T1 MRI images and no ocular pathologies that could affect retinal layer thickness. Using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, we assessed the thickness of the macular RNFL. We analyzed the relationship between RNFL thickness and regional brain volumes using voxel-based morphometry, adjusting for age, sex, and total intracranial volume (uncorrected p < 0.001, cluster size threshold = 100 voxels). The relationship between RNFL thickness and cortical thickness by FreeSurfer was assessed using Pearson's correlation analysis, with adjustments for age and sex.
Result: Increased gray matter volumes correlating with outer RNFL thickness were present in the right inferior parietal (t=3.81), the left superior frontal (t=3.71), and left inferior temporal (t=3.95) cortices. The total RNFL thickness was associated with the volume of the right inferior parietal cortex (t=3.62). Significant associations were found between RNFL thickness and the cortical thickness of multiple brain regions. In particular, the cortical thickness in the left posterior cingulate and both supramarginal regions was significantly correlated with total, inner, and outer RNFL thickness. Upon adjusting for multiple comparisons, these associations did not retain statistical significance.
Conclusion: RNFL thickness was associated with various brain regions involved in sensory information processing and integration, as well as cognitive functions. We also observed correlations with brain regions implicated in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease pathology.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/alz.091127 | DOI Listing |
Background: Despite an aging population, it remains challenging to reliably differentiate between loss of cognitive function associated with normal aging and cognitive decline associated with pathologic processes. With growing interest in using retinal and optic nerve biomarkers to diagnose neurodegenerative diseases, characterization of the velocity of normal retinal age-related changes will further our understanding. We evaluated longitudinal microvascular changes in cognitively normal older adults using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlzheimers Dement
December 2024
Ophthalmology, Myongji Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea, Republic of (South).
Background: Spectrum Domain-Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT) is a non-invasive technology that acquires cross-sectional images of retinal structures allowing neural fundus integrity assessment. Macular thickness and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness measured by an SD-OCT have been used as a indicator of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). However which portion of retinal RNFL is the most sensitive area among normal control, aMCI and AD is not clear yet.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlzheimers Dement
December 2024
Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Background: The early detection of preclinical dementia is crucial, prompting investigations into retinal biomarkers using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Inconsistent and limited longitudinal studies have been done to clarify the association between the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) thickness and cognitive function over time. This study aims to explore the association between retinal biomarkers and cognitive function over time in non-demented older adults.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlzheimers Dement
December 2024
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
Background: The potential of plasma Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio, NfL, p-tau 181, and p-tau 217 has been extensively discussed in the literature. Our previous study explored the association between retinal biomarkers and preclinical AD. The goal of this study was to evaluate the association and a multimodal model of retinal and plasma biomarkers for detection of preclinical AD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlzheimers Dement
December 2024
Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea, Republic of (South).
Background: To elucidate the biological mechanisms underpinning the association between macular Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer (RNFL) thickness and cognitive function in older adults, this study investigates its correlation with brain volume and cortical thickness.
Method: From a community-dwelling prospective cohort, we included 166 non-demented participants aged over 65 years (mean age 75.2 ± 5.
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