Retinal perfusion is linked to cognition and brain MRI biomarkers in Black Americans

We investigated whether retinal capillary perfusion is a biomarker of cerebral small vessel disease and impaired cognition among Black Americans, an understudied group at higher risk for dementia.

We enrolled 96 Black Americans without known cognitive impairment. Four retinal perfusion measures were derived using optical coherence tomography angiography. Neurocognitive assessment and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed.

Lower retinal capillary perfusion was correlated with worse Oral Symbol Digit Test (P < = 0.005) and Fluid Cognition Composite scores (P < = 0.02), but not with the Crystallized Cognition Composite score (P > = 0.41). Lower retinal perfusion was also correlated with higher free water and peak width of skeletonized mean diffusivity, and lower fractional anisotropy (all P < 0.05) on MRI (N = 35).

Lower retinal capillary perfusion is associated with worse information processing, fluid cognition, and MRI biomarkers of cerebral small vessel disease, but is not related to crystallized cognition.