The attenuation of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and cognitive deterioration

Abstract

Thinner retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) has been reported in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patient. However, whether changes in RNFL thickness can predict the cognitive deterioration remains unknown. We therefore set out a prospective clinical investigation to determine the potential association between the attenuation of RNFL thickness and the deterioration of cognitive function over a period of 25 months. We assessed cognitive function using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status and measured RNFL thickness employing optical coherence tomography in 78 participants (mean age 72.31 ± 3.98 years, 52% men). The participants were categorized as stable participants whose cognitive status remained no change (N = 60) and converted participants whose cognitive status deteriorated (N = 18). We found that there was an association between the attenuation of superior quadrant RNFL thickness and the deterioration of cognitive function in the stable participants. In the converted participants, however, there was an inverse association between the reduction of inferior quadrant RNFL thickness and decline of cognitive functions [scores of list recall (R = -0.670, P = 0.002), adjusted (R = -0.493, P = 0.031)]. These data showed that less reduction in the inferior quadrant of RNFL thickness might indicate a higher risk for the patients to develop cognitive deterioration. These findings have established a system to embark a larger scale study to further test whether changes in RNFL thickness can serve as a biomarker of AD, and would lead to mechanistic studies to determine the cellular mechanisms of cognitive deterioration.

Correlation between cognitive impairment and retinal neural loss assessed by swept‐source optical coherence tomography in patients with mild cognitive impairment

“…This sheds new light on the pattern of axonal damage and neuronal loss affecting patients with MCI. Several authors have reported reductions in pRNFL thickness in patients with MCI, which, although significant, were not as severe as in AD [12,13,17,21,29,30,41,42]. If we consider MCI a stage in the transition from normal cognition to dementia, then a reduction in pRNFL thickness would be expected.…”

Cognitive performance of primary open-angle glaucoma and normal-tension glaucoma patients

“…The literature did not reveal any studies with similar glaucoma and dementia parameters for glaucoma patients. In some studies performed on dementia-group diseases causing cognitive impairment, a significant correlation was found between the MMSE score and RNFL thickness (30,31) . In addition, in a study by Bayhan et al, a significant correlation was (32) found between the MMSE score and the mean GC-IPL thickness.…”

Macular Thickness in Subjective Memory Complaints and Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Non-Invasive Biomarker

“…[27][28][29][30] A great variety and quantity of biomarkers related to eyes 31 or spinal fluid 32 can be found. Specifically for the eyes, hypersensitivity in pupil response to acetylcholine 33 or tropicamide, 34 amyloid beta (AB) protein deposits in the crystalline 35 or the aqueous and vitreous humour region, 36 and a flow reduction of the retina venules measured with echo-Doppler 37 have been proposed as biomarkers of the cognitive impairment.…”