BACKGROUND: Because retinal and cerebral arterioles share similar pathologic processes, retinal microvascular changes are expected to be markers of cerebral small vessel disease (SVD). To better understand the role of SVD in cognitive function, we investigated the relationship between retinal microvascular abnormalities and longitudinal changes in cognitive function in a community-based study. METHODS: A total of 803 participants underwent 4 cognitive assessments between 1990-1992 and 2004-2006, using the Word Fluency (WF) test, Digit Symbol Substitution (DSS), and Delayed Word Recall as well as retinal photography in 1993-1995. Covariate adjusted random effects linear models for repeated measures were used to determine the associations of cognitive change with specific retinal vascular abnormalities. RESULTS: Individuals with retinopathy showed declines in executive function and psychomotor speed, with 1) an average decline in WF of -1.64 words per decade (95% confidence interval [CI] -3.3, -0.02) compared to no decline in those without retinopathy +0.06 (95% CI -0.6, 0.8) and 2) a higher frequency of rapid decliners on the DSS test. CONCLUSION: Signs of retinal vascular changes, as markers of the cerebral microvasculature, are associated with declines in executive function and psychomotor speed, adding to the growing evidence for the role of microvascular disease in cognitive decline in the elderly.
BACKGROUND: Because retinal and cerebral arterioles share similar pathologic processes, retinal microvascular changes are expected to be markers of cerebral small vessel disease (SVD). To better understand the role of SVD in cognitive function, we investigated the relationship between retinal microvascular abnormalities and longitudinal changes in cognitive function in a community-based study. METHODS: A total of 803 participants underwent 4 cognitive assessments between 1990-1992 and 2004-2006, using the Word Fluency (WF) test, Digit Symbol Substitution (DSS), and Delayed Word Recall as well as retinal photography in 1993-1995. Covariate adjusted random effects linear models for repeated measures were used to determine the associations of cognitive change with specific retinal vascular abnormalities. RESULTS: Individuals with retinopathy showed declines in executive function and psychomotor speed, with 1) an average decline in WF of -1.64 words per decade (95% confidence interval [CI] -3.3, -0.02) compared to no decline in those without retinopathy +0.06 (95% CI -0.6, 0.8) and 2) a higher frequency of rapid decliners on the DSS test. CONCLUSION: Signs of retinal vascular changes, as markers of the cerebral microvasculature, are associated with declines in executive function and psychomotor speed, adding to the growing evidence for the role of microvascular disease in cognitive decline in the elderly.
Authors: Lon White; Helen Petrovitch; John Hardman; James Nelson; Daron G Davis; G Webster Ross; Kamal Masaki; Lenore Launer; William R Markesbery Journal: Ann N Y Acad Sci Date: 2002-11 Impact factor: 5.691
Authors: Wiesje M van der Flier; Elizabeth C W van Straaten; Frederik Barkhof; Ana Verdelho; Sofia Madureira; Leonardo Pantoni; Domenico Inzitari; Timo Erkinjuntti; Militta Crisby; Gunhild Waldemar; Reinhold Schmidt; Franz Fazekas; Philip Scheltens Journal: Stroke Date: 2005-09-01 Impact factor: 7.914
Authors: A R Sharrett; L D Hubbard; L S Cooper; P D Sorlie; R J Brothers; F J Nieto; J L Pinsky; R Klein Journal: Am J Epidemiol Date: 1999-08-01 Impact factor: 4.897
Authors: Sarah E Vermeer; Niels D Prins; Tom den Heijer; Albert Hofman; Peter J Koudstaal; Monique M B Breteler Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2003-03-27 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: Niels D Prins; Ewoud J van Dijk; Tom den Heijer; Sarah E Vermeer; Jellemer Jolles; Peter J Koudstaal; Albert Hofman; Monique M B Breteler Journal: Brain Date: 2005-06-09 Impact factor: 13.501
Authors: Tien Yin Wong; Ronald Klein; A Richey Sharrett; F Javier Nieto; Lori L Boland; David J Couper; Thomas H Mosley; Barbara E K Klein; Larry D Hubbard; Moyses Szklo Journal: Stroke Date: 2002-06 Impact factor: 7.914
Authors: Michelle L Baker; Emily K Marino Larsen; Lewis H Kuller; Ronald Klein; Barbara E K Klein; David S Siscovick; Charles Bernick; Teri A Manolio; Tien Yin Wong Journal: Stroke Date: 2007-05-24 Impact factor: 7.914
Authors: F J de Jong; E M C Schrijvers; M K Ikram; P J Koudstaal; P T V M de Jong; A Hofman; J R Vingerling; M M B Breteler Journal: Neurology Date: 2011-02-02 Impact factor: 9.910
Authors: M Haan; M A Espeland; B E Klein; R Casanova; S A Gaussoin; R D Jackson; A E Millen; S M Resnick; J E Rossouw; S A Shumaker; R Wallace; K Yaffe Journal: Neurology Date: 2012-03-14 Impact factor: 9.910
Authors: Jennifer A Deal; A Richey Sharrett; Marilyn Albert; Karen Bandeen-Roche; Sheila Burgard; Sonia Davis Thomas; Rebecca F Gottesman; David Knopman; Thomas Mosley; Barbara Klein; Ronald Klein Journal: Alzheimers Dement Date: 2018-11-12 Impact factor: 21.566
Authors: Ryo Kawasaki; Ning Cheung; Thomas Mosley; Amirul F M Islam; A Richey Sharrett; Ronald Klein; Laura H Coker; David S Knopman; Dean K Shibata; Diane Catellier; Tien Y Wong Journal: Stroke Date: 2010-06-24 Impact factor: 7.914
Authors: Lawrence L Horstman; Wenche Jy; Yeon S Ahn; Robert Zivadinov; Amir H Maghzi; Masoud Etemadifar; J Steven Alexander; Alireza Minagar Journal: J Neuroinflammation Date: 2010-02-03 Impact factor: 8.322
Authors: Jie Ding; Mark W J Strachan; Rebecca M Reynolds; Brian M Frier; Ian J Deary; F Gerald R Fowkes; Amanda J Lee; Janet McKnight; Patricia Halpin; Ken Swa; Jackie F Price Journal: Diabetes Date: 2010-08-26 Impact factor: 9.461