Retinal Venular Tortuosity Jointly with Retinal Amyloid Burden Correlates with Verbal Memory Loss: A Pilot Study
Oana M Dumitrascu1, Ryan Rosenberry2, Dale S Sherman3
1Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ 85251, USA.
Cells
|November 27, 2021
Summary
Retinal imaging reveals that combining amyloid burden and venular tortuosity can predict verbal memory loss in patients with cognitive impairment. This non-invasive approach aids in understanding neurodegeneration.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neurology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Retinal imaging offers a non-invasive method to assess retinal vasculature and neurodegeneration.
- Cognitive impairment is a growing concern, necessitating novel diagnostic tools.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between retinal vascular features, amyloid burden, and neurocognitive status.
- To explore the potential of retinal imaging in predicting cognitive decline.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative retinal curcumin-fluorescence imaging (RFI) was employed to measure retinal amyloid burden.
- Retinal blood vessels were segmented to quantify vessel tortuosity index (VTI), inflection index, and branching angle.
- Linear regression models assessed correlations between retinal parameters and cognitive Z-scores.
Main Results:
- A combined analysis of proximal mid-periphery amyloid count and venous VTI showed significant differences between cognitively impaired and normal subjects (p=0.006).
- This combined retinal parameter correlated with verbal memory scores (Wechsler Memory Scale-IV) and mental component scores (SF-36).
Conclusions:
- Retinal venular VTI and amyloid count may serve as predictive biomarkers for verbal memory loss.
- This pilot study highlights the potential of retinal imaging technology for clinical applications in cognitive impairment.
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