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Xu Z, Li Y, Fu Q, Wang C, Yu Y, Fang X, Zhu W, Wu X, Wei R. Retinal structural thicknesses reflect clinically relevant microstructural white matter abnormalities in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders. Mult Scler Relat Disord 2024; 88:105713. [PMID: 38905991 DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2024.105713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thinning of retinal thickness seen on optical coherence tomography (OCT) is frequent in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). We explored the association between OCT metrics, MRI measurements and clinical outcomes in NMOSD. METHODS 44 NMOSD and 60 controls underwent OCT and MR imaging. Mean peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) and ganglion cell complex (GCC) thicknesses were measured. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) was used to measure the white matter microstructural integrity. In NMOSD patients, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) was used to quantify disability. Visual acuity (VA) was also performed for all participants. RESULTS pRNFL thickness was positively associated with mean diffusivity in left posterior thalamic radiation (pp = 0.010) and axial kurtosis in inferior cerebellar peduncle (p = 0.023). Similarly, GCC thickness in NMOSD patients was positively associated with fractional anisotropy in right superior longitudinal fascicules (p = 0. 041) and axial kurtosis of left cerebellar peduncle (p = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS In NMOSD, pRNFL and GCC reflect integrity of clinically relevant white matter structures underlying the value of OCT metrics as markers of neuronaxonal loss and disability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhipeng Xu
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, NO. 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, PR China
| | - Yulin Li
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou, 310009, PR China
| | - Qinghui Fu
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, NO. 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, PR China
| | - Caimu Wang
- Intensive Care Unit, Ninghai First Hospital, 142 Taoyuan middle road, Ninghai, Zhejiang 315600, PR China
| | - Yongwei Yu
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, NO. 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, PR China
| | - Xing Fang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, NO. 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, PR China
| | - Wenli Zhu
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, NO. 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, PR China
| | - Xiaoxin Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, NO. 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, PR China.
| | - Ruili Wei
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, NO. 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, PR China.
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Lee CS, Ferguson AN, Gibbons LE, Walker R, Su YR, Krakauer C, Brush M, Kam J, Larson EB, Arterburn DE, Crane PK. Eye Adult Changes in Thought (Eye ACT) Study: Design and Report on the Inaugural Cohort. J Alzheimers Dis 2024:JAD240203. [PMID: 38875039 DOI: 10.3233/jad-240203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
Background Conflicting research on retinal biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD) is likely related to limited sample sizes, study design, and protocol differences. Objective The prospective Eye Adult Changes in Thought (Eye ACT) seeks to address these gaps. Methods Eye ACT participants are recruited from ACT, an ongoing cohort of dementia-free, older adults followed biennially until AD/ADRD, and undergo visual function and retinal imaging assessment either in clinic or at home. Results 330 participants were recruited as of 03/2023. Compared to ACT participants not in Eye ACT (N = 1868), Eye ACT participants (N = 330) are younger (mean age: 70.3 versus 71.2, p = 0.014), newer to ACT (median ACT visits since baseline: 3 versus 4, p < 0.001), have more years of education (17.7 versus 16.2, p < 0.001) and had lower rates of visual impairment (12% versus 22%, p < 0.001). Compared to those seen in clinic (N = 300), Eye ACT participants seen at home (N = 30) are older (77.2 versus 74.9, p = 0.015), more frequently female (60% versus 49%, p = 0.026), and have significantly worse visual acuity (71.1 versus 78.9 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters, p < 0.001) and contrast sensitivity (-1.9 versus -2.1 mean log units at 3 cycles per degree, p = 0.002). Cognitive scores and retinal imaging measurements are similar between the two groups. Conclusions Participants assessed at home had significantly worse visual function than those seen in clinic. By including these participants, Eye ACT provides a unique longitudinal cohort for evaluating potential retinal biomarkers of dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia S Lee
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- The Roger and Angie Karalis Johnson Retina Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Alina N Ferguson
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- The Roger and Angie Karalis Johnson Retina Center, Seattle, WA, USA
- University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Laura E Gibbons
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Rod Walker
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Yu-Ru Su
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Chloe Krakauer
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Jason Kam
- Kaiser Permanente Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Eric B Larson
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - David E Arterburn
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Paul K Crane
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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Pan R, Ye C, Zhang Z, Kwapong WR, Wang R, Lu K, Liao L, Yan Y, Yang T, Cao L, Jiang S, Zhang X, Liu J, Tao W, Wu B. Distinct alterations of retinal structure between thalamic and extra-thalamic subcortical infarction patients: A cross-sectional and longitudinal study. CNS Neurosci Ther 2024; 30:e14543. [PMID: 38018655 PMCID: PMC11017429 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS Cerebrovascular lesions in the primary visual cortex, the lateral geniculate nucleus, and the optic tract have been associated with retinal neurodegeneration via the retrograde degeneration (RD) mechanism. We aimed to use optical coherence tomography (OCT) to assess the effects of the strategic single subcortical infarction (SSI) location on retinal neurodegeneration and its longitudinal impacts. METHODS Patients with SSI were enrolled and stratified by lesion location on cerebral MRI into the thalamic infarction group and extra-thalamic infarction group. Healthy controls from the native communities were also recruited. Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) were quantified using OCT. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) models were used for cross-sectional analyses and linear mixed models for longitudinal analyses. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS We included a total of 283 eyes from 149 SSI patients. Of these, 115 eyes of 60 patients with follow-up were included in the longitudinal analyses. Cross-sectionally, thalamic-infarction patients had reduced retinal thickness compared with extra-thalamic infarction patients after adjustment for age, gender, disease duration, and vascular risk factors (p = 0.026 for RNFL, and p = 0.026 for GCIPL). Longitudinally, SSI patients showed greater retinal thinning compared with healthy controls over time (p = 0.040 for RNFL, and p < 0.001 for GCIPL), and thalamic infarction patients exhibited faster rates of GCIPL thinning in comparison with extra-thalamic infarction patients (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION Our study demonstrates a distinct effect of subcortical infarction lesion site on the retina both at the early stage of disease and at the 1-year follow-up time. These results present evidence of significant associations between strategic infarction locations and retinal neurodegeneration. It may provide novel insights for further research on RD in stroke patients and ultimately facilitate individualized recovery therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruosu Pan
- Department of NeurologyWest China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
- Center of Cerebrovascular DiseasesWest China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Chen Ye
- Department of NeurologyWest China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
- Center of Cerebrovascular DiseasesWest China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Zhimeng Zhang
- West China School of MedicineSichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | | | - Ruilin Wang
- Department of OphthalmologyWest China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Kun Lu
- Department of NeurologyWest China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Lanhua Liao
- Department of NeurologyWest China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Yuying Yan
- Department of NeurologyWest China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Tang Yang
- Department of NeurologyWest China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Le Cao
- Department of NeurologyWest China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Shuai Jiang
- Department of NeurologyWest China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Xuening Zhang
- Department of NeurologyWest China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Junfeng Liu
- Department of NeurologyWest China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
- Center of Cerebrovascular DiseasesWest China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Wendan Tao
- Department of NeurologyWest China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
- Center of Cerebrovascular DiseasesWest China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Bo Wu
- Department of NeurologyWest China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
- Center of Cerebrovascular DiseasesWest China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
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Friedel EBN, Tebartz van Elst L, Schäfer M, Maier S, Runge K, Küchlin S, Reich M, Lagrèze WA, Kornmeier J, Ebert D, Endres D, Domschke K, Nickel K. Retinal Thinning in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 2024; 54:1143-1156. [PMID: 36550331 PMCID: PMC10907434 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05882-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Since the retina shares its embryological origin with the central nervous system, optical coherence tomography (OCT), an imaging technique frequently employed in ophthalmology to analyze the macula and intraretinal layer thicknesses and volumes, has recently become increasingly important in psychiatric research. We examined 34 autistic and 31 neurotypical adults (NT) using OCT. Autistic adults had reduced overall macular and outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness and volume compared to NT. Both macular and ONL thickness showed significant inverse associations with the severity of autistic symptoms measured with the Social Responsiveness Scale 2 (SRS-2). Longitudinal studies across different age groups are required to clarify whether retinal changes may represent a possible trait marker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelyn B N Friedel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Eye Center, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ludger Tebartz van Elst
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Mirjam Schäfer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Simon Maier
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Kimon Runge
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Küchlin
- Eye Center, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Michael Reich
- Eye Center, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Wolf A Lagrèze
- Eye Center, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jürgen Kornmeier
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Institute for Frontier Areas of Psychology and Mental Health, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Dieter Ebert
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Dominique Endres
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Katharina Domschke
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Center for Basics in Neuromodulation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Kathrin Nickel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
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van der Heide FCT, Steens ILM, Limmen B, Mokhtar S, van Boxtel MPJ, Schram MT, Köhler S, Kroon AA, van der Kallen CJH, Dagnelie PC, van Dongen MCJM, Eussen SJPM, Berendschot TTJM, Webers CAB, van Greevenbroek MMJ, Koster A, van Sloten TT, Jansen JFA, Backes WH, Stehouwer CDA. Thinner inner retinal layers are associated with lower cognitive performance, lower brain volume, and altered white matter network structure-The Maastricht Study. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:316-329. [PMID: 37611119 PMCID: PMC10917009 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The retina may provide non-invasive, scalable biomarkers for monitoring cerebral neurodegeneration. METHODS We used cross-sectional data from The Maastricht study (n = 3436; mean age 59.3 years; 48% men; and 21% with type 2 diabetes [the latter oversampled by design]). We evaluated associations of retinal nerve fiber layer, ganglion cell layer, and inner plexiform layer thicknesses with cognitive performance and magnetic resonance imaging indices (global grey and white matter volume, hippocampal volume, whole brain node degree, global efficiency, clustering coefficient, and local efficiency). RESULTS After adjustment, lower thicknesses of most inner retinal layers were significantly associated with worse cognitive performance, lower grey and white matter volume, lower hippocampal volume, and worse brain white matter network structure assessed from lower whole brain node degree, lower global efficiency, higher clustering coefficient, and higher local efficiency. DISCUSSION The retina may provide biomarkers that are informative of cerebral neurodegenerative changes in the pathobiology of dementia.
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Grants
- 31O.041 OP-Zuid, the Province of Limburg, the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs
- Stichting De Weijerhorst (Maastricht, the Netherlands), the Pearl String Initiative Diabetes (Amsterdam, the Netherlands), the Cardiovascular Center (CVC, Maastricht, the Netherlands), CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases (Maastricht, the Netherlands), CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care (Maastricht, the Netherlands), NUTRIM School for Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (Maastricht, the Netherlands), Stichting Annadal (Maastricht, the Netherlands), Health Foundation Limburg (Maastricht, the Netherlands), Perimed (Järfälla, Sweden), and by unrestricted grants from Janssen-Cilag B.V. (Tilburg, the Netherlands), Novo Nordisk Farma B.V. (Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands), and Sanofi-Aventis Netherlands B.V. (Gouda, the Netherlands)
- 916.19.074 VENI research
- 2018T025 Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research and the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development, and a Dutch Heart Foundation research
- 2021.81.004 Diabetes Fonds Fellowship
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6
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Kara MZ, Örüm MH, Karadağ AS, Kalenderoğlu A, Kara A. Reduction in Retinal Ganglion Cell Layer, Inner Plexiform Layer, and Choroidal Thickness in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Cureus 2023; 15:e49981. [PMID: 38179343 PMCID: PMC10766208 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.49981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSES The aim of this study was to evaluate the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), choroidal layer, inner plexiform layer (IPL), and ganglion cell layer (GCL) in patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS In this study, we measured the thickness of the RNFL, GCL, IPL, and choroidal thickness using a spectral optical coherence tomography (OCT) device and we compared the results between the children diagnosed with ASD and healthy controls. Correlation between the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and the OCT data was evaluated. RESULTS Both ASD and control group consisted of 40 subjects (30 males and 10 females). Of the children in the ASD group, 29 had normal intelligence and 11 had mild intellectual disability (MID). The mean age of patients in the ASD group and control groups were 9.77 ± 3.37 years and 9.85 ± 3.97 years (p = 0.928). There was a statistically significant difference between the ASD group and the control group in the nasal and nasal-superior sectors of the RNFL layers in the left eye when all the lower layers of RNFL were assessed. In both eyes, the children with ASD had considerably lower mean choroidal thicknesses than the controls. When compared to the controls, the GCL and IPL volumes in the individuals with ASD were considerably lower in both eyes. Compared to the MID group, the left GCL volume of the nasal-inferior group was noticeably higher. A significant correlation was found between CARS scores and left GCL left IPL. CONCLUSIONS In contrast to RNFL in the ASD group, significant reductions in IPL, GCL, and choroidal thickness were observed in both eyes. It is thought that GCL may be a much more important biomarker than RNFL in terms of representing the structural deterioration in the brain. In addition, these results may form the basis for a new perspective on the use of OCT for the diagnosis and clinical course of autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmut Zabit Kara
- Child Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Health Sciences, Antalya, TUR
| | | | | | | | - Aslıhan Kara
- Biological Sciences, Semikal Technology, Antalya, TUR
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7
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Lima Rebouças SC, Crivello F, Tsuchida A, Tzourio C, Schweitzer C, Korobelnik J, Delcourt C, Helmer C. Association of retinal nerve layers thickness and brain imaging in healthy young subjects from the i-Share-Bordeaux study. Hum Brain Mapp 2023; 44:4722-4737. [PMID: 37401639 PMCID: PMC10400793 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Given the anatomical and functional similarities between the retina and the brain, the retina could be a "window" for viewing brain structures. We investigated the association between retinal nerve fiber layers (peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer, ppRNFL; macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer, GC-IPL; and macular ganglion cell complex, GCC), and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameters in young health adults. We included 857 students (mean age: 23.3 years, 71.3% women) from the i-Share study. We used multivariate linear models to study the cross-sectional association of each retinal nerve layer thickness assessed by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) with structural (volumes and cortical thickness), and microstructural brain markers, assessed on MRI globally and regionally. Microstructural MRI parameters included diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging (NODDI). On global brain analysis, thicker ppRNFL, GC-IPL and GCC were all significantly associated with patterns of diffusion metrics consistent with higher WM microstructural integrity. In regional analyses, after multiple testing corrections, our results suggested significant associations of some retinal nerve layers with brain regional gray matter occipital volumes and with diffusion MRI parameters in a region involved in the visual pathway and in regions containing associative tracts. No associations were found with global volumes or with global or regional cortical thicknesses. Results of this study suggest that some retinal nerve layers may reflect brain structures. Further studies are needed to confirm these results in young subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ami Tsuchida
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, CEA, IMN, GINBordeauxFrance
| | | | - Cédric Schweitzer
- Department of OphthalmologyBordeaux University HospitalBordeauxFrance
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8
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Stuart KV, Luben RN, Warwick AN, Madjedi KM, Patel PJ, Biradar MI, Sun Z, Chia MA, Pasquale LR, Wiggs JL, Kang JH, Kim J, Aschard H, Tran JH, Lentjes MAH, Foster PJ, Khawaja AP. The Association of Alcohol Consumption with Glaucoma and Related Traits: Findings from the UK Biobank. Ophthalmol Glaucoma 2023; 6:366-379. [PMID: 36481453 PMCID: PMC10239785 DOI: 10.1016/j.ogla.2022.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To examine the associations of alcohol consumption with glaucoma and related traits, to assess whether a genetic predisposition to glaucoma modified these associations, and to perform Mendelian randomization (MR) experiments to probe causal effects. DESIGN Cross-sectional observational and gene-environment interaction analyses in the UK Biobank. Two-sample MR experiments using summary statistics from large genetic consortia. PARTICIPANTS UK Biobank participants with data on intraocular pressure (IOP) (n = 109 097), OCT-derived macular inner retinal layer thickness measures (n = 46 236) and glaucoma status (n = 173 407). METHODS Participants were categorized according to self-reported drinking behaviors. Quantitative estimates of alcohol intake were derived from touchscreen questionnaires and food composition tables. We performed a 2-step analysis, first comparing categories of alcohol consumption (never, infrequent, regular, and former drinkers) before assessing for a dose-response effect in regular drinkers only. Multivariable linear, logistic, and restricted cubic spline regression, adjusted for key sociodemographic, medical, anthropometric, and lifestyle factors, were used to examine associations. We assessed whether any association was modified by a multitrait glaucoma polygenic risk score. The inverse-variance weighted method was used for the main MR analyses. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Intraocular pressure, macular retinal nerve fiber layer (mRNFL) thickness, macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (mGCIPL) thickness, and prevalent glaucoma. RESULTS Compared with infrequent drinkers, regular drinkers had higher IOP (+0.17 mmHg; P < 0.001) and thinner mGCIPL (-0.17 μm; P = 0.049), whereas former drinkers had a higher prevalence of glaucoma (odds ratio, 1.53; P = 0.002). In regular drinkers, alcohol intake was adversely associated with all outcomes in a dose-dependent manner (all P < 0.001). Restricted cubic spline regression analyses suggested nonlinear associations, with apparent threshold effects at approximately 50 g (∼6 UK or 4 US alcoholic units)/week for mRNFL and mGCIPL thickness. Significantly stronger alcohol-IOP associations were observed in participants at higher genetic susceptibility to glaucoma (Pinteraction < 0.001). Mendelian randomization analyses provided evidence for a causal association with mGCIPL thickness. CONCLUSIONS Alcohol intake was consistently and adversely associated with glaucoma and related traits, and at levels below current United Kingdom (< 112 g/week) and United States (women, < 98 g/week; men, < 196 g/week) guidelines. Although we cannot infer causality definitively, these results will be of interest to people with or at risk of glaucoma and their advising physicians. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S) Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey V Stuart
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Robert N Luben
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom; MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Alasdair N Warwick
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom; UCL Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kian M Madjedi
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom; Department of Ophthalmology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Praveen J Patel
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mahantesh I Biradar
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Zihan Sun
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mark A Chia
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Louis R Pasquale
- Department of Ophthalmology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Janey L Wiggs
- Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jae H Kang
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jihye Kim
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Hugues Aschard
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts; Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Department of Computational Biology, Paris, France
| | - Jessica H Tran
- Department of Ophthalmology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | | | - Paul J Foster
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony P Khawaja
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
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9
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Foster PJ, Atan D, Khawaja A, Lotery A, MacGillivray T, Owen CG, Patel PJ, Petzold A, Rudnicka A, Sun Z, Sheard S, Allen N. Cohort profile: rationale and methods of UK Biobank repeat imaging study eye measures to study dementia. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e069258. [PMID: 37355273 PMCID: PMC10314584 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-069258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The retina provides biomarkers of neuronal and vascular health that offer promising insights into cognitive ageing, mild cognitive impairment and dementia. This article described the rationale and methodology of eye and vision assessments with the aim of supporting the study of dementia in the UK Biobank Repeat Imaging study. PARTICIPANTS UK Biobank is a large-scale, multicentre, prospective cohort containing in-depth genetic, lifestyle, environmental and health information from half a million participants aged 40-69 enrolled in 2006-2010 across the UK. A subset (up to 60 000 participants) of the cohort will be invited to the UK Biobank Repeat Imaging Study to collect repeated brain, cardiac and abdominal MRI scans, whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, carotid ultrasound, as well as retinal optical coherence tomography (OCT) and colour fundus photographs. FINDINGS TO DATE UK Biobank has helped make significant advances in understanding risk factors for many common diseases, including for dementia and cognitive decline. Ophthalmic genetic and epidemiology studies have also benefited from the unparalleled combination of very large numbers of participants, deep phenotyping and longitudinal follow-up of the cohort, with comprehensive health data linkage to disease outcomes. In addition, we have used UK Biobank data to describe the relationship between retinal structures, cognitive function and brain MRI-derived phenotypes. FUTURE PLANS The collection of eye-related data (eg, OCT), as part of the UK Biobank Repeat Imaging study, will take place in 2022-2028. The depth and breadth and longitudinal nature of this dataset, coupled with its open-access policy, will create a major new resource for dementia diagnostic discovery and to better understand its association with comorbid diseases. In addition, the broad and diverse data available in this study will support research into ophthalmic diseases and various other health outcomes beyond dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul J Foster
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, NIHR Moorfields Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
| | - Denize Atan
- Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Anthony Khawaja
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust & UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK
| | - Andrew Lotery
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Tom MacGillivray
- Clinical Research Imaging Centre, Queens Medical Research Institution, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Christopher G Owen
- Population Health Research Institute, St Georges Medical School, University of London, London, UK
| | - Praveen J Patel
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Axel Petzold
- Department of Molecular Neurosciences, Moorfields Eye Hospital and The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK
- Departments of Neurology, Ophthalmology and Expertise Center for Neuro-ophthalmology, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Alicja Rudnicka
- Population Health Research Institute, St Georges Medical School, University of London, London, UK
| | - Zihan Sun
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Naomi Allen
- UK Biobank, Stockport, UK
- Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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10
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Barrett-Young A, Abraham WC, Cheung CY, Gale J, Hogan S, Ireland D, Keenan R, Knodt AR, Melzer TR, Moffitt TE, Ramrakha S, Tham YC, Wilson GA, Wong TY, Hariri AR, Poulton R. Associations Between Thinner Retinal Neuronal Layers and Suboptimal Brain Structural Integrity in a Middle-Aged Cohort. Eye Brain 2023; 15:25-35. [PMID: 36936476 PMCID: PMC10018220 DOI: 10.2147/eb.s402510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose The retina has potential as a biomarker of brain health and Alzheimer's disease (AD) because it is the only part of the central nervous system which can be easily imaged and has advantages over brain imaging technologies. Few studies have compared retinal and brain measurements in a middle-aged sample. The objective of our study was to investigate whether retinal neuronal measurements were associated with structural brain measurements in a middle-aged population-based cohort. Participants and Methods Participants were members of the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study (n=1037; a longitudinal cohort followed from birth and at ages 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 18, 21, 26, 32, 38, and most recently at age 45, when 94% of the living Study members participated). Retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) thickness were measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT). Brain age gap estimate (brainAGE), cortical surface area, cortical thickness, subcortical grey matter volumes, white matter hyperintensities, were measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Results Participants with both MRI and OCT data were included in the analysis (RNFL n=828, female n=413 [49.9%], male n=415 [50.1%]; GC-IPL n=825, female n=413 [50.1%], male n=412 [49.9%]). Thinner retinal neuronal layers were associated with older brain age, smaller cortical surface area, thinner average cortex, smaller subcortical grey matter volumes, and increased volume of white matter hyperintensities. Conclusion These findings provide evidence that the retinal neuronal layers reflect differences in midlife structural brain integrity consistent with increased risk for later AD, supporting the proposition that the retina may be an early biomarker of brain health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Carol Y Cheung
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Jesse Gale
- Department of Surgery & Anaesthesia, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Sean Hogan
- Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - David Ireland
- Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Ross Keenan
- Department of Radiology, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand
- Pacific Radiology Group, Christchurch, New Zealand
- New Zealand Brain Research Institute, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Annchen R Knodt
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Tracy R Melzer
- New Zealand Brain Research Institute, Christchurch, New Zealand
- Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
- School of Psychology, Speech and Hearing, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Terrie E Moffitt
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Sandhya Ramrakha
- Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Yih Chung Tham
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Graham A Wilson
- Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Tien Yin Wong
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- Tsinghua Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ahmad R Hariri
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Richie Poulton
- Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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11
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Zhao B, Li Y, Fan Z, Wu Z, Shu J, Yang X, Yang Y, Wang X, Li B, Wang X, Copana C, Yang Y, Lin J, Li Y, Stein JL, O'Brien JM, Li T, Zhu H. Eye-brain connections revealed by multimodal retinal and brain imaging genetics in the UK Biobank. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.02.16.23286035. [PMID: 36824893 PMCID: PMC9949187 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.16.23286035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
Abstract
As an anatomical extension of the brain, the retina of the eye is synaptically connected to the visual cortex, establishing physiological connections between the eye and the brain. Despite the unique opportunity retinal structures offer for assessing brain disorders, less is known about their relationship to brain structure and function. Here we present a systematic cross-organ genetic architecture analysis of eye-brain connections using retina and brain imaging endophenotypes. Novel phenotypic and genetic links were identified between retinal imaging biomarkers and brain structure and function measures derived from multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), many of which were involved in the visual pathways, including the primary visual cortex. In 65 genomic regions, retinal imaging biomarkers shared genetic influences with brain diseases and complex traits, 18 showing more genetic overlaps with brain MRI traits. Mendelian randomization suggests that retinal structures have bidirectional genetic causal links with neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease. Overall, cross-organ imaging genetics reveals a genetic basis for eye-brain connections, suggesting that the retinal images can elucidate genetic risk factors for brain disorders and disease-related changes in intracranial structure and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingxin Zhao
- Department of Statistics and Data Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Statistics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Yujue Li
- Department of Statistics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Zirui Fan
- Department of Statistics and Data Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Zhenyi Wu
- Department of Statistics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Juan Shu
- Department of Statistics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Xiaochen Yang
- Department of Statistics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Yilin Yang
- Department of Computer and Information Science and Electrical and Systems Engineering, School of Engineering & Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Xifeng Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Bingxuan Li
- Department of Computer Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Xiyao Wang
- Department of Computer Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Carlos Copana
- Department of Statistics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Yue Yang
- Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jinjie Lin
- Yale School of Management, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Yun Li
- Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jason L. Stein
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Joan M. O'Brien
- Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Penn Medicine Center for Ophthalmic Genetics in Complex Diseases, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Tengfei Li
- Department of Radiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Biomedical Research Imaging Center, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Hongtu Zhu
- Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Computer Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Statistics and Operations Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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12
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Chen Y, Yuan Y, Zhang S, Yang S, Zhang J, Guo X, Huang W, Zhu Z, He M, Wang W. Retinal nerve fiber layer thinning as a novel fingerprint for cardiovascular events: results from the prospective cohorts in UK and China. BMC Med 2023; 21:24. [PMID: 36653845 PMCID: PMC9850527 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-023-02728-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Retinal structural abnormalities have been found to serve as biomarkers for cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the association between retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and the incidence of CVD events remains inconclusive, and relevant longitudinal studies are lacking. Therefore, we aimed to examine this link in two prospective cohort studies. METHODS A total of 25,563 participants from UK Biobank who were initially free of CVD were included in the current study. Another 635 participants without retinopathy at baseline from the Chinese Guangzhou Diabetes Eye Study (GDES) were adopted as the validation set. Measurements of RNFL thickness in the macular (UK Biobank) and peripapillary (GDES) regions were obtained from optical coherence tomography (OCT). Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs), odd ratios (ORs), and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to quantify CVD risk. RESULTS Over a median follow-up period of 7.67 years, 1281 (5.01%) participants in UK Biobank developed CVD events. Each 5-μm decrease in macular RNFL thickness was associated with an 8% increase in incident CVD risk (HR = 1.08, 95% CI: 1.01-1.17, p = 0.033). Compared with participants in the highest tertile of RNFL thickness, the risk of incident CVD was significantly increased in participants in the lowest thickness tertile (HR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.01-1.38, p = 0.036). In GDES, 29 (4.57%) patients developed CVD events within 3 years. Lower average peripapillary RNFL thickness was also associated with a higher CVD risk (OR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.11-1.65, p = 0.003). The additive net reclassification improvement (NRI) was 21.8%, and the absolute NRI was 2.0% by addition of RNFL thickness over the Framingham risk score. Of 29 patients with incident CVD, 7 were correctly reclassified to a higher risk category while 1 was reclassified to a lower category, and 21 high risk patients were not reclassified. CONCLUSIONS RNFL thinning was independently associated with increased incident cardiovascular risk and improved reclassification capability, indicating RNFL thickness derived from the non-invasive OCT as a potential retinal fingerprint for CVD event across ethnicities and health conditions. TRIAL REGISTRATION ISRCTN 15853192.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanping Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yixiong Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shiran Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shaopeng Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, China
| | - Junyao Zhang
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, University of Melbourne. Level 7, 32 Gisborne Street, East Melbourne, VIC, 3002, Australia
| | - Xiao Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenyong Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhuoting Zhu
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, University of Melbourne. Level 7, 32 Gisborne Street, East Melbourne, VIC, 3002, Australia.
| | - Mingguang He
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, China.
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, University of Melbourne. Level 7, 32 Gisborne Street, East Melbourne, VIC, 3002, Australia.
| | - Wei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, China.
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13
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Yin GS, van der Heide F, Littlejohns TJ, Kuźma E, Hayat S, Brayne C, Foster PJ, Luben R, Khawaja AP. Association Between Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness and Incident Dementia in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer in Norfolk Cohort. J Alzheimers Dis 2023; 95:691-702. [PMID: 37574729 DOI: 10.3233/jad-230073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness may reflect cerebral status. OBJECTIVE This study assessed the relationship between RNFL thickness and incident all-cause dementia in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer in Norfolk (EPIC-Norfolk) Eye Study. METHODS Glaucoma detection with variable corneal compensation (GDx-VCC) and Heidelberg Retinal Tomograph II (HRT II) derived global mean RNFL thickness from dementia-free participants at baseline within the EPIC-Norfolk Eye Study were analyzed. Incident dementia was identified through linkage to electronic medical records. Cox proportional hazard mixed-effects regression models adjusted for key confounders were used to examine the associations between RNFL thickness and incident dementia in four separate models. RESULTS 6,239 participants were included with 322 cases of incident dementia and mean age of 67.5-years old, with 49.7% women (median follow-up 13.2-years, interquartile range (11.7 to 14.6 years). Greater RNFL thickness (GDx-VCC) was not significantly associated with a lower risk of incident dementia in the full adjusted model [HR per quartile increase 0.95; 95% CI 0.82-1.10]. Similarly, RNFL thickness assessed with HRT II was also not associated with incident dementia in any model (full adjusted model; HR per quartile increase: 1.06; [95% CI 0.93-1.19]. Gender did not modify any associations under study. CONCLUSION GDx-VCC and HRT II derived RNFL thickness are unlikely to be useful predictors of incident dementia. Higher resolution optical imaging technologies may clarify whether there are useful relationships between neuro-retinal morphology and brain measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace S Yin
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, UK
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, UK
| | - Frank van der Heide
- Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, the Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, the Netherlands
| | | | - Elżbieta Kuźma
- Albertinen-Haus Centre for Geriatrics and Gerontology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Shabina Hayat
- Department of Behavioural Science and Health, Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, England, UK
| | - Carol Brayne
- Cambridge Public Health, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Paul J Foster
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK
| | - Robert Luben
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, UK
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK
| | - Anthony P Khawaja
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, UK
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK
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14
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Mathew S, WuDunn D, Mackay DD, Vosmeier A, Tallman EF, Deardorff R, Harris A, Farlow MR, Brosch JR, Gao S, Apostolova LG, Saykin AJ, Risacher SL. Association of Brain Volume and Retinal Thickness in the Early Stages of Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2023; 91:743-752. [PMID: 36502316 PMCID: PMC9990456 DOI: 10.3233/jad-210533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The eye has been considered a 'window to the brain,' and several neurological diseases including neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer's disease (AD) also show changes in the retina. OBJECTIVE To investigate retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and its association with brain volume via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in older adults with subjective or objective cognitive decline. METHODS 75 participants underwent ophthalmological and neurological evaluation including optical coherence tomography and MRI (28 cognitively normal subjects, 26 with subjective cognitive decline, 17 patients diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, and 4 with AD). Differences in demographics, thickness of RNFL, and brain volume were assessed using ANCOVA, while partial Pearson correlations, covaried for age and sex, were used to compare thickness of the peripapillary RNFL with brain volumes, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant. RESULTS Mean RNFL thickness was significantly correlated with brain volumes, including global volume (right eye r = 0.235 p = 0.046, left eye r = 0.244, p = 0.037), temporal lobe (right eye r = 0.242 p = 0.039, left eye r = 0.290, p = 0.013), hippocampal (right eye r = 0.320 p = 0.005, left eye r = 0.306, p = 0.008), amygdala (left eye r = 0.332, p = 0.004), and occipital lobe (right eye r = 0.264 p = 0.024) volumes. CONCLUSION RNFL thickness in both eyes was positively associated with brain volumes in subjects with subjective and objective cognitive decline. The RNFL, however, did not correlate with the disease, but the small sample number makes it important to conduct larger studies. RNFL thickness may be a useful non-invasive and inexpensive tool for detection of brain neurodegeneration and may assist with diagnosis and monitoring of progression and treatment in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunu Mathew
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | | | - Devin D. Mackay
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Aaron Vosmeier
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Eileen F. Tallman
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Rachael Deardorff
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | | | - Martin R. Farlow
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Jared R. Brosch
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Sujuan Gao
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Liana G. Apostolova
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Andrew J. Saykin
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Shannon L. Risacher
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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15
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López-Cuenca I, Marcos-Dolado A, Yus-Fuertes M, Salobrar-García E, Elvira-Hurtado L, Fernández-Albarral JA, Salazar JJ, Ramírez AI, Sánchez-Puebla L, Fuentes-Ferrer ME, Barabash A, Ramírez-Toraño F, Gil-Martínez L, Arrazola-García J, Gil P, de Hoz R, Ramírez JM. The relationship between retinal layers and brain areas in asymptomatic first-degree relatives of sporadic forms of Alzheimer’s disease: an exploratory analysis. Alzheimers Res Ther 2022; 14:79. [PMID: 35659054 PMCID: PMC9166601 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-022-01008-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Background Two main genetic risks for sporadic Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are a family history and ɛ4 allele of apolipoprotein E. The brain and retina are part of the central nervous system and share pathophysiological mechanisms in AD. Methods We performed a cross-sectional study with 30 participants without a family history of sporadic AD (FH−) and noncarriers of ApoE ɛ4 (ApoE ɛ4−) as a control group and 34 participants with a family history of sporadic AD (FH+) and carriers of at least one ɛ4 allele (ApoE ɛ4+). We analyzed the correlations between macular volumes of retinal layers and thickness of the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT) with the brain area parameters measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in participants at high genetic risk of developing AD (FH+ ApoE ɛ4+). Results We observed a significant volume reduction in the FH+ ApoE ɛ4+ group compared with the control group in some macular areas of (i) macular RNFL (mRNFL), (ii) inner plexiform layer (IPL), (iii) inner nuclear layer (INL), and (iv) outer plexiform layer (OPL). Furthermore, in the FH+ ApoE ɛ4+ group, the retinal sectors that showed statistically significant volume decrease correlated with brain areas that are affected in the early stages of AD. In the same group, the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) did not show statistically significant changes in thickness compared with the control group. However, correlations of these sectors with the brain areas involved in this disease were also found. Conclusions In cognitively healthy participants at high genetic risk of developing sporadic forms of AD, there are significant correlations between retinal changes and brain areas closely related to AD such as the entorhinal cortex, the lingual gyrus, and the hippocampus. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13195-022-01008-5.
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16
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Wang R, Kwapong WR, Tao W, Cao L, Ye C, Liu J, Zhang S, Wu B. Association of retinal thickness and microvasculature with cognitive performance and brain volumes in elderly adults. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:1010548. [PMID: 36466601 PMCID: PMC9709407 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.1010548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Retinal structural and microvascular changes can be visualized and have been linked with cognitive decline and brain changes in cerebral age-related disorders. We investigated the association between retinal structural and microvascular changes with cognitive performance and brain volumes in elderly adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS All participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and a battery of neuropsychological examinations. Macula retinal thicknesses (retinal nerve fiber layer, mRNFL, and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer, GCIPL) were imaged and measured with swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) while Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA) imaged and measured the superficial vascular complex (SVC) and deep vascular complex (DVC) of the retina. RESULTS Out of the 135 participants, 91 (67.41%) were females and none had dementia. After adjusting for risk factors, Shape Trail Test (STT)-A correlated with SVC (P < 0.001), DVC (P = 0.015) and mRNFL (P = 0.013) while STT-B correlated with SVC (P = 0.020) and GCIPL (P = 0.015). mRNFL thickness correlated with Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) (P = 0.007) and Stroop A (P = 0.030). After adjusting for risk factors and total intracranial volume, SVC correlated with hippocampal volume (P < 0.001). Hippocampal volume correlated (P < 0.05) with most cognitive measures. Stroop B (P < 0.001) and Stroop C (P = 0.020) correlated with white matter volume while Stroop measures and STT-A correlated with gray matter volume (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that the retinal structure and microvasculature can be useful pointers for cognitive performance, giving a choice for early discovery of decline in cognition and potential early treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruilin Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | | | - Wendan Tao
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Le Cao
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Chen Ye
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Junfeng Liu
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shuting Zhang
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Bo Wu
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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Tao W, Kwapong WR, Xie J, Wang Z, Guo X, Liu J, Ye C, Wu B, Zhao Y, Liu M. Retinal microvasculature and imaging markers of brain frailty in normal aging adults. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:945964. [PMID: 36072485 PMCID: PMC9441884 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.945964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundThe retina and brain share a similar embryologic origin, blood barriers, and microvasculature features. Thus, retinal imaging has been of interest in the aging population to help in the early detection of brain disorders. Imaging evaluation of brain frailty, including brain atrophy and markers of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), could reflect brain health in normal aging, but is costly and time-consuming. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the retinal microvasculature and its association with radiological indicators of brain frailty in normal aging adults.MethodsSwept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA) and 3T-MRI brain scanning were performed on normal aging adults (aged ≥ 50 years). Using a deep learning algorithm, microvascular tortuosity (VT) and fractal dimension parameter (Dbox) were used to evaluate the superficial vascular complex (SVC) and deep vascular complex (DVC) of the retina. MRI markers of brain frailty include brain volumetric measures and CSVD markers that were assessed.ResultsOf the 139 normal aging individuals included, the mean age was 59.43 ± 7.31 years, and 64.0% (n = 89) of the participants were females. After adjustment of age, sex, and vascular risk factors, Dbox in the DVC showed a significant association with the presence of lacunes (β = 0.58, p = 0.007), while VT in the SVC significantly correlated with the score of cerebral deep white matter hyperintensity (β = 0.31, p = 0.027). No correlations were found between brain volumes and retinal microvasculature changes (P > 0.05).ConclusionOur report suggests that imaging of the retinal microvasculature may give clues to brain frailty in the aging population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendan Tao
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | | | - Jianyang Xie
- Cixi Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, China
| | - Zetao Wang
- Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaonan Guo
- School of Information Science and Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, China
| | - Junfeng Liu
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Chen Ye
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Bo Wu
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yitian Zhao
- The Affiliated People’s Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
- Cixi Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, China
- Yitian Zhao,
| | - Ming Liu
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Ming Liu,
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Ye C, Kwapong WR, Tao W, Lu K, Pan R, Wang A, Liu J, Liu M, Wu B. Alterations of optic tract and retinal structure in patients after thalamic stroke. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:942438. [PMID: 35966790 PMCID: PMC9363922 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.942438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
ObjectivesTo investigate the association between degeneration of retinal structure and shrinkage of the optic tract in patients after thalamic stroke.Materials and methodsPatients with unilateral thalamic stroke were included. Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were performed to obtain parameters of optic tract shrinkage (lateral index) and retina structural thickness (retinal nerve fiber layer, RNFL; peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer, pRNFL; ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer, GCIP), respectively. Visual acuity (VA) examination under illumination was conducted using Snellen charts and then converted to the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (LogMAR). We investigated the association between LI and OCT parameters and their relationships with VA.ResultsA total of 33 patients and 23 age-sex matched stroke-free healthy controls were enrolled. Patients with thalamic stroke showed altered LI compared with control participants (P = 0.011) and a significantly increased value of LI in the subgroup of disease duration more than 6 months (P = 0.004). In these patients, LI were significantly associated with pRNFL thickness (β = 0.349, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.134–0.564, P = 0.002) after adjusting for confounders (age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and lesion volume). LI and pRNFL were both significantly associated with VA in all patients (LI: β = −0.275, 95% CI: −0.539 to −0.011, P = 0.041; pRNFL: β = −0.023, 95% CI: −0.046 to −0.001, P = 0.040) and in subgroup of disease duration more than 6 months (LI: β = −0.290, 95% CI: −0.469 to −0.111, P = 0.002; pRNFL: β = −0.041, 95% CI: −0.065 to −0.017, P = 0.003).ConclusionShrinkage of the optic tract can be detected in patients with thalamic stroke, especially after 6 months of stroke onset. In these patients, the extent of optic tract atrophy is associated with pRNFL thickness, and they are both related to visual acuity changes.
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Ueda E, Hirabayashi N, Ohara T, Hata J, Honda T, Fujiwara K, Furuta Y, Shibata M, Hashimoto S, Nakamura S, Nakazawa T, Nakao T, Kitazono T, Ninomiya T, Sonoda KH. Association of Inner Retinal Thickness with Prevalent Dementia and Brain Atrophy in a General Older Population. OPHTHALMOLOGY SCIENCE 2022; 2:100157. [PMID: 36249677 PMCID: PMC9559916 DOI: 10.1016/j.xops.2022.100157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2021] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Kleerekooper I, Chua S, Foster PJ, Trip SA, Plant GT, Petzold A, Patel P. Associations of Alcohol Consumption and Smoking With Disease Risk and Neurodegeneration in Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis in the United Kingdom. JAMA Netw Open 2022; 5:e220902. [PMID: 35238934 PMCID: PMC8895260 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.0902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Understanding the effects of modifiable risk factors on risk for multiple sclerosis (MS) and associated neurodegeneration is important to guide clinical counseling. OBJECTIVE To investigate associations of alcohol use, smoking, and obesity with odds of MS diagnosis and macular ganglion cell layer and inner plexiform layer (mGCIPL) thickness. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This cross-sectional study analyzed data from the community-based UK Biobank study on health behaviors and retinal thickness (measured by optical coherence tomography in both eyes) in individuals aged 40 to 69 years examined from December 1, 2009, to December 31, 2010. Risk factors were identified with multivariable logistic regression analyses. To adjust for intereye correlations, multivariable generalized estimating equations were used to explore associations of alcohol use and smoking with mGCIPL thickness. Finally, interaction models explored whether the correlations of alcohol and smoking with mGCIPL thickness differed for individuals with MS. Data were analyzed from February 1 to July 1, 2021. EXPOSURES Smoking status (never, previous, or current), alcohol intake (never or special occasions only [low], once per month to ≤4 times per week [moderate], or daily/almost daily [high]), and body mass index. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Multiple sclerosis case status and mGCIPL thickness. RESULTS A total of 71 981 individuals (38 685 women [53.7%] and 33 296 men [46.3%]; mean [SD] age, 56.7 [8.0] years) were included in the analysis (20 065 healthy control individuals, 51 737 control individuals with comorbidities, and 179 individuals with MS). Modifiable risk factors significantly associated with MS case status were current smoking (odds ratio [OR], 3.05 [95% CI, 1.95-4.64]), moderate alcohol intake (OR, 0.62 [95% CI, 0.43-0.91]), and obesity (OR, 1.72 [95% CI, 1.15-2.56]) compared with healthy control individuals. Compared with the control individuals with comorbidities, only smoking was associated with case status (OR, 2.30 [95% CI, 1.48-3.51]). High alcohol intake was associated with a thinner mGCIPL in individuals with MS (adjusted β = -3.09 [95% CI, -5.70 to -0.48] μm; P = .02). In the alcohol interaction model, high alcohol intake was associated with thinner mGCIPL in control individuals (β = -0.93 [95% CI, -1.07 to -0.79] μm; P < .001), but there was no statistically significant association in individuals with MS (β = -2.27 [95% CI, -4.76 to 0.22] μm; P = .07). Smoking was not associated with mGCIPL thickness in MS. However, smoking was associated with greater mGCIPL thickness in control individuals (β = 0.89 [95% CI, 0.74-1.05 μm]; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE These findings suggest that high alcohol intake was associated with retinal features indicative of more severe neurodegeneration, whereas smoking was associated with higher odds of being diagnosed with MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris Kleerekooper
- Queen Square MS Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL (University College London) Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Neuro-ophthalmology, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sharon Chua
- NIHR (National Institute for Health Research) Biomedical Research Centre, Moorfields Eye Hospital, NHS (National Health Service) Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Paul J. Foster
- NIHR (National Institute for Health Research) Biomedical Research Centre, Moorfields Eye Hospital, NHS (National Health Service) Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - S. Anand Trip
- Queen Square MS Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL (University College London) Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gordon T. Plant
- Queen Square MS Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL (University College London) Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Axel Petzold
- Queen Square MS Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL (University College London) Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Neuro-ophthalmology, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, United Kingdom
- Dutch Expertise Centre for Neuro-ophthalmology and MS (Multiple Sclerosis) Centre, Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology, Amsterdam University Medical College, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Praveen Patel
- NIHR (National Institute for Health Research) Biomedical Research Centre, Moorfields Eye Hospital, NHS (National Health Service) Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
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van der Heide FCT, van Sloten TT, Willekens N, Stehouwer CDA. Neurovascular coupling unit dysfunction and dementia: Retinal measurements as tools to move towards population-based evidence. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:1014287. [PMID: 36506058 PMCID: PMC9727310 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1014287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysfunction of the neurovascular coupling unit may be an important contributor to dementia. The neurovascular coupling unit comprises neuronal structures (e.g. astrocytes) and vascular structures (e.g. endothelial cells) that functionally interact both at the level of the arterioles as well as at the capillary level (blood-brain barrier) to regulate optimal metabolic conditions in the brain. However, it remains unclear how and to what extent dysfunction of the neurovascular coupling unit contributes to the early-stage pathobiology of dementia. Currently, limited data are available on the association between neurovascular coupling unit dysfunction, as quantified by cerebral imaging techniques, and cognitive performance. In particular, there is a lack of population-based human data (defined as studies with a sample size ~n>500). This is an important limitation because population-based studies, in comparison with smaller clinical studies, provide data which is better representative of the general population; are less susceptible to selection bias; and have a larger statistical power to detect small associations. To acquire population-based data, however, alternative imaging techniques than cerebral imaging techniques may be required. Disadvantages of cerebral imaging techniques, which limit use in population-based studies, are that these techniques are relatively expensive, time-consuming, and/or invasive. In this review, we propose that retinal imaging techniques can be used for population-based studies: on the one hand the retina and brain have many anatomical and physiological similarities; and on the other hand retinal imaging techniques are non-invasive, highly accurate, relatively inexpensive, and require relatively short measurement time. To provide support for this concept, we provide an overview on the human (population-based) evidence on the associations of retinal indices of neurodegeneration, microvascular dysfunction, and dysfunction of the neurovascular coupling unit with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of structural brain abnormalities and cognitive performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank C. T. van der Heide
- CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University (UM), Maastricht, Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center+ (MUMC+), Maastricht, Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, MUMC+, Maastricht, Netherlands
- School of Mental Health and Neuroscience, MUMC+, Maastricht, Netherlands
- *Correspondence: Frank C. T. van der Heide,
| | - Thomas T. van Sloten
- CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University (UM), Maastricht, Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center+ (MUMC+), Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Nele Willekens
- CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University (UM), Maastricht, Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center+ (MUMC+), Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Coen D. A. Stehouwer
- CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University (UM), Maastricht, Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center+ (MUMC+), Maastricht, Netherlands
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22
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Hsu JL, Gu PS, Kang EYC, Lai CC, Lo FS. Retinal Thickness Associates with Cognition Dysfunction in Young Adult with Type 1 Diabetes in Taiwan. J Diabetes Res 2022; 2022:9082177. [PMID: 36200004 PMCID: PMC9529476 DOI: 10.1155/2022/9082177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several factors could affect the cognitive dysfunction in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D). OBJECTIVES To report the characteristic of cognitive dysfunction in T1D and find its association with the retinal thickness. SUBJECTS We recruited one hundred and seven patients with T1D in our study. METHODS Detailed clinical and demographic factors and Cambridge Automated Neuropsychological Test Battery (CANTAB) were performed in all participants. The age at onset>5 years old and ≤5 years old groups was defined as old- and young-onset groups. The levels of the average values of 5-year glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c_5) before study were collected. Ophthalmic study and central retinal thickness (CRT) were performed. RESULTS The median age of T1D was 24.9 years old and 57 participants were women. The median age at onset was 7.4 years old, and mean disease duration was 17.2 years. After adjusting off multiple covariates by the regression analyses, the young-onset group had significantly a longer latency in sustained attention than old-onset group (P = 0.02). The HbA1c_5 showed a significantly negative association with the sustained attention (P = 0.03). The average values of CRT showed significantly negative correlations with the reaction time in sustained attention and visual searching (P = 0.04 and P < 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that age at onset and glycemic control had significant impacts on different cognitive domains in T1D. The CRT had a significant correlation with sustained attention, which could be a surrogate markers of brain structural changes in T1D.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung-Lung Hsu
- Department of Neurology, New Taipei Municipal Tucheng Hospital, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, New Taipei City, Taiwan
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou and Neuroscience Research Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Mind, Brain, & Consciousness, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Brain & Consciousness Research Center, Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Shin Gu
- Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Eugene Yu-Chuan Kang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Chun Lai
- Department of Ophthalmology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Fu-Sung Lo
- Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan
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23
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Zeng X, Hu Y, Chen Y, Lin Z, Liang Y, Liu B, Zhong P, Xiao Y, Li C, Wu G, Kong H, Du Z, Ren Y, Fang Y, Ye Z, Yang X, Yu H. Retinal Neurovascular Impairment in Non-diabetic and Non-dialytic Chronic Kidney Disease Patients. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:703898. [PMID: 34867144 PMCID: PMC8639216 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.703898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Widespread neural and microvascular injuries are common in chronic kidney disease (CKD), increasing risks of neurovascular complications and mortality. Early detection of such changes helps assess the risks of neurovascular complications for CKD patients. As an extension of central nervous system, the retina provides a characteristic window to observe neurovascular alterations in CKD. This study aimed to determine the presence of retinal neurovascular impairment in different stages of CKD. Methods: One hundred fifteen non-diabetic and non-dialytic CKD patients of all stages and a control group of 35 healthy subjects were included. Retinal neural and microvascular parameters were obtained by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) examination. Results: CKD 1-2 group (versus control group) had greater odds of having decreased retinal ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer thickness (GC-IPLt) (odds ratio [OR]: 0.92; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.86-0.98), increased ganglion cell complex-focal loss volume (GCC-FLV) (OR: 3.51; 95% CI: 1.27-9.67), and GCC-global loss volume (GCC-GLV) (OR: 2.48; 95% CI: 1.27-4.82). The presence of advanced stages of CKD (CKD 3-5 group versus CKD 1-2 group) had greater odds of having decreased retinal vessel density in superficial vascular plexus (SVP)-WholeImage (OR: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.63-0.92), SVP-ParaFovea (OR: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.71-0.97), SVP-ParaFovea (OR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.63-0.91), deep vascular plexus (DVP)-WholeImage (OR: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.81-0.98), DVP-ParaFovea (OR: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.78-0.99), and DVP-PeriFovea (OR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.83-0.98). Besides, stepwise multivariate linear regression among CKD patients showed that β2-microglobulin was negatively associated with GC-IPLt (β: -0.294; 95% CI: -0.469 ∼ -0.118), and parathyroid hormone was positively associated with increased GCC-FLV (β: 0.004; 95% CI: 0.002∼0.006) and GCC-GLV (β: 0.007; 95% CI: 0.004∼0.01). Urine protein to creatinine ratio was positively associated with increased GCC-FLV (β: 0.003; 95% CI: 0.001∼0.004) and GCC-GLV (β: 0.003; 95% CI: 0.001∼0.006). Conclusion: Retinal neuronal impairment is present in early stages of CKD (stages 1-2), and it is associated with accumulation of uremic toxins and higher UACR, while retinal microvascular hypoperfusion, which is associated with worse eGFR, was only observed in relatively advanced stages of CKD (stages 3-5). The results highlight the importance of monitoring retinal neurovascular impairment in different stages of CKD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomin Zeng
- Guangdong Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yijun Hu
- Aier Institute of Refractive Surgery, Refractive Surgery Center, Guangzhou Aier Eye Hospital, Guangzhou, China
- Aier School of Ophthalmology, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yuanhan Chen
- Division of Nephrology, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhanjie Lin
- Guangdong Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Yingying Liang
- Guangdong Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Baoyi Liu
- Guangdong Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Pingting Zhong
- Guangdong Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Yu Xiao
- Guangdong Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Cong Li
- Guangdong Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guanrong Wu
- Guangdong Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huiqian Kong
- Guangdong Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zijing Du
- Guangdong Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yun Ren
- Guangdong Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Ying Fang
- Guangdong Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhiming Ye
- Division of Nephrology, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Zhiming Ye,
| | - Xiaohong Yang
- Guangdong Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Xiaohong Yang,
| | - Honghua Yu
- Guangdong Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Honghua Yu,
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