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Updated: May 12, 2026

Using Retinal Imaging to Study Dementia
Published on: November 6, 2017
Associations between retinal microvascular changes and dementia, cognitive functioning, and brain imaging
Sophie M Heringa1, Willem H Bouvy, Esther van den Berg
1Department of Neurology, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. s.m.heringa@umcutrecht.nl
Retinal microvascular changes are linked to cognitive decline and brain abnormalities in aging individuals. These eye vessel changes may serve as an early indicator for brain health, particularly in cross-sectional studies.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neurology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Retinal microvasculature visualization offers a noninvasive method to assess vascular health.
- Aging and vascular disease are associated with both cognitive decline and changes in brain structure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the association between retinal microvascular changes and dementia, cognitive function, and brain imaging abnormalities.
- To explore these associations in the context of aging and vascular risk factors.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of studies published between 1990 and November 2012.
- Analysis of cross-sectional (k=26) and longitudinal (k=9) studies.
Main Results:
- Cross-sectional studies showed associations between retinal microvascular changes and dementia, cognitive decrements, and brain abnormalities (atrophy, vascular lesions).
- Longitudinal studies revealed inconsistent associations with dementia and cognitive dysfunction but suggested prospective links to brain imaging abnormalities.
Conclusions:
- Retinal microvascular changes correlate with dementia, cognitive impairment, and brain abnormalities, especially in cross-sectional data.
- The strength of association increases with the severity of retinal abnormalities.
- Retinal microvascular assessment may provide insights into brain health and etiological studies.
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