Macular vessel density in the superficial plexus is not associated to cerebrovascular damage in non‐demented individuals: data from the NORFACE cohort
Year: 2023
Type: article
Abstract: Background Optical Coherence Tomography angiography (OCT‐A) is a novel tool that allows the detection of retinal vascular changes. The comparison of OCT‐A measures with brain vascular burden is essential to validate the former as a surrogate of cerebrovascular damage and biomarker of cognitive decline. We aimed to investigate the association of macular vessel density (VD) in the superficial plexus assessed by OCT‐A with measures of cerebrovascular pathology quantified by brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a cohort of non‐demented individuals. Method Clinical, demographical, APOE ε4 status, amyloid status, OCT‐A and brain MRI data from non‐demented participants of the FACEHBI and BIOFACE studies were included. We analyzed the association of macular VD in four quadrants (superior, nasal, inferior and temporal) with brain vascular burden using the Fazekas scale scores (dichotomized in two categories, 0‐1 vs 2‐3), assessed in a logistic regression analysis, and the volume of white matter hyperintensities (WMH) quantified by Freesurfer assessed in a multiple regression analysis. We additionally explored the associations of macular VD with hippocampal volume, ventricles volume and Alzheimer Disease cortical signature (ADCS) thickness assessed in a multiple regression analysis. All analyses were adjusted for age and dyslipidemia. Result The study cohort comprised 188 participants: 89 with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and 99 with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Logistic regression analysis showed no significant differences of regional macular VD between the two Fazekas groups (all, p>0.05). Multiple regression analysis showed no significant association of regional macular VD with the volume of WMH (all, p>0.05). Macular VD in the nasal and inferior quadrants were positively associated with hippocampal volume (p = 0.009 and p = 0.021, respectively), but no association was detected with ventricles volume or ADCS thickness (both p>0.05). Conclusion Our study showed that retinal vascular measures (regional macular VD in the superficial vascular plexus) assessed by OCT‐A were not associated with brain vascular damage quantified by the Fazekas scale and the WMH burden n in a cohort of non‐demented research participants with SCD and MCI.
Source: Alzheimer s & Dementia
DOI: 10.1002/alz.074052
Authors: Marta Marquié, Ainhoa García‐Sánchez, Oscar Sotolongo‐Grau, Juan Pablo Tartari, Angela Sanabria, Ester Esteban‐De Antonio, Alba Pérez, Miguel Castilla‐Martí, Luis Castilla‐Martí, Joan Martínez, Emilio Alarcón‐Martín, Montserrat Alegret, Núria Aguilera, Assumpta Vivas, Gómez‐Chiari M, José Miguel Escudero, Miguel Angel Tejero, Lluís Tárraga, Agustin Ruiz, Mercè Boada
Institutions: Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Biomedical Research Networking Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases, Berner Augenklinik am Lindenhofspital, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Hôpital Ophtalmique Jules-Gonin, Fondation Asile des Aveugles, University of Lausanne
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4390194498