Evaluation of macular thickness and volume tested by optical coherence tomography as biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease in a memory clinic.
Domingo SánchezMiguel Castilla-MartíMarta MarquiéSergi ValeroSonia Moreno-GrauOctavio Rodríguez-GómezAlbert PiferrerGabriel MartínezJoan MartínezItziar De RojasIsabel HernándezCarla AbdelnourMaitée Rosende-RocaLiliana VargasAna MauleónSilvia GilMontserrat AlegretGemma OrtegaAna EspinosaAlba Pérez-CordónÁngela SanabriaNatalia RobertoAndreea CiudinRafael SimóCristina HernándezLluís TárragaMercè BoadaAgustin RuizPublished in: Scientific reports (2020)
Building on previous studies that report thinning of the macula in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients, the use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) has been proposed as a potential biomarker for AD. However, other studies contradict these results. A total of 930 participants (414 cognitively healthy people, 192 with probable amnestic MCI, and 324 probable AD patients) from a memory clinic were consecutively included in this study and underwent a spectral domain OCT scan (Maestro, Topcon) to assess total macular volume and thickness. Macular width measurements were also taken in several subregions (central, inner, and outer rings) and in layers such as the retinal nerve fiber (RNFL) and ganglion cell (CGL). The study employed a design of high ecological validity, with adjustment by age, education, sex, and OCT image quality. AD, MCI, and control groups did not significantly vary with regard to volume and retinal thickness in different layers. When these groups were compared, multivariate-adjusted analysis disclosed no significant differences in total (p = 0.564), CGL (p = 0.267), RNFL (p = 0.574), and macular thickness and volume (p = 0.380). The only macular regions showing significant differences were the superior (p = 0.040) and nasal (p = 0.040) sectors of the inner macular ring. However, adjustment for multiple comparisons nullified this significance. These results are not supporting existing claims for the usefulness of macular thickness as a biomarker of cognitive impairment in a memory unit. OCT biomarkers for AD should be subject to further longitudinal testing.
Keyphrases
- optical coherence tomography
- mild cognitive impairment
- diabetic retinopathy
- cognitive decline
- optic nerve
- end stage renal disease
- newly diagnosed
- ejection fraction
- working memory
- image quality
- cognitive impairment
- computed tomography
- prognostic factors
- peritoneal dialysis
- cross sectional
- magnetic resonance
- magnetic resonance imaging
- spinal cord
- single cell
- mesenchymal stem cells
- bone marrow
- age related macular degeneration
- human health
- case control
- patient reported