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Retinal vessel density correlates with cognitive function in older adults
Author(s) -
Jiang Hong,
Fang Min,
Strand Keri,
Zhang Juan,
Totillo Matthew,
Signorile Joseph F.,
Wang Jianhua
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1002/alz.049108
Subject(s) - retinal , montreal cognitive assessment , cognition , medicine , cognitive decline , dementia , cardiology , mini–mental state examination , ophthalmology , psychology , psychiatry , disease
Abstract Background Accumulating evidence indicates that microvascular alterations in the brain, especially at the capillary level, are one of the major contributors to cognitive impairment and dementia in older adults. The brain and retinal microvasculature share similar anatomic and physiologic features. Alterations of retinal microvasculature reflect similar changes in brain. We examined the associations between retinal microvascular density, cognition and physical fitness in healthy older adults with no reported cognitive decline. Method Twenty cognitively normal older adults (age: 70.3 ± 4.6 years) were recruited. Both eyes of each subject were imaged using optical coherence tomography angiography. The vessel density of the retinal vascular network (RVN), superficial vascular plexus (SVP), and deep vascular plexus (DVP) was measured. Cognitive function was tested using the Mini‐mental state examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), while physical performance was evaluated using the YMCA cycle ergometer test. Partial correlations (r partial ) were computed between measures of retinal microvascular density, cognitive function, and physical performance. Result The MoCA was significantly correlated to vessel density of RVN (r partial = 0.54, P = 0.002) and SVP (r partial = 0.59, P < 0.001), but not DVP (r partial = ‐0.01, P = 0.99). MoCA also showed a trend toward correlation with YMCA total work (TW‐YMCA, r partial = 0.28, P = 0.14). Retinal microvascular density was not related to TW‐YMCA (r partial = ‐ 0.23 ∼ 0.12, P > 0.05). Conclusion The MoCA was significantly correlated to vessel density of RVN (r partial = 0.54, P = 0.002) and SVP (r partial = 0.59, P < 0.001), but not DVP (r partial = ‐0.01, P = 0.99). MoCA also showed a trend toward correlation with YMCA total work (TW‐YMCA, r partial = 0.28, P = 0.14). Retinal microvascular density was not related to TW‐YMCA (r partial = ‐ 0.23 ∼ 0.12, P > 0.05).