Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 22, 2026
08:35
Shuttle Box Assay as an Associative Learning Tool for Cognitive Assessment in Learning and Memory Studies using Adult Zebrafish
Published on: July 12, 2021
4.9K
Quantitative Assessment of the Retina Using OCT and Associations with Cognitive Function
Yoshikazu Ito1, Mariko Sasaki2, Hiroki Takahashi3
1Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan.
Ophthalmology
|July 17, 2019
Summary
Macular retinal thickness, not peripapillary, is linked to dementia in older Japanese adults. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurements of the macula may serve as a biomarker for cognitive function assessment.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neurology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Cognitive decline and dementia are significant public health concerns in aging populations.
- Retinal structure, particularly nerve fiber layer thickness, has been explored as a potential indicator of neurological health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between various retinal thickness measurements and cognitive function in elderly Japanese individuals.
- To determine if macular or peripapillary retinal measurements are more strongly associated with cognitive status.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional, population-based study involving 975 Japanese participants aged 65-86.
- Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) was used to measure macular retinal nerve fiber layer (mRNFL), ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL), ganglion cell complex (GCC), and full macular thickness.
- Cognitive function was assessed using standard tests, categorizing participants into Normal, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia groups.
Main Results:
- Full macular thickness and GCC thickness were inversely associated with the presence of dementia after adjusting for confounders.
- Specific inferior sectors of the GC-IPL, GCC, and full macular thickness showed significant associations with dementia.
- Peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (ppRNFL) thickness was not significantly associated with dementia in this cohort.
Conclusions:
- Macular retinal thickness measurements, particularly GCC and full macular thickness, are associated with cognitive function and dementia.
- OCT-derived macular parameters may be more valuable than ppRNFL measurements for detecting neurodegenerative changes and serving as a biomarker for cognitive health.
More Related Videos
10:13Assessment of Age-related Changes in Cognitive Functions Using EmoCogMeter, a Novel Tablet-computer Based Approach
Published on: February 14, 2014
14.1K
07:41Behavioral Assessment of Visual Function via Optomotor Response and Cognitive Function via Y-Maze in Diabetic Rats
Published on: October 23, 2020
6.7K
Related Concept Videos
01:38Cognitive Dissonance
36.8K
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
36.8K
01:32The Retina
75.2K
The retina is a layer of nervous tissue at the back of the eye that transduces light into neural signals. This process, called phototransduction, is carried out by rod and cone photoreceptor cells in the back of the retina.
75.2K
01:21Association Areas of the Cortex
9.1K
Association areas are regions of the cerebral cortex that do not have a specific sensory or motor function. Instead, they integrate and interpret information from various sources to enable higher cognitive processes such as memory, learning, and decision-making. Some key association areas include the following:
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
9.1K
01:27Associative Learning
1.3K
Associative learning is a fundamental concept in behavioral psychology, wherein a connection is established between two stimuli or events, leading to a learned response. This process is critical in understanding how behaviors are acquired and modified. Conditioning, the mechanism through which associations are formed, can be divided into two main types: classical conditioning and operant conditioning, each elucidating different aspects of associative learning.
Classical conditioning, also known...
Classical conditioning, also known...
1.3K
01:27Language and Cognition
730
Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
730
01:25Cognitive Therapy
931
Cognitive therapy, pioneered by Aaron T. Beck in the 1960s, is a structured approach to addressing psychological distress by focusing on the influence of thoughts on emotions and behaviors. All cognitive therapies involve the basic assumption that human beings have control over their feelings, and that how individuals feel about something depends on how they think about it. Unlike psychoanalytic methods that delve into unconscious processes or humanistic approaches emphasizing...
931