Distinct and Overlapping Metabolites Associated with Visual Impairment and Cognitive Impairment

Area of Science:

• Metabolomics
• Neuroscience
• Ophthalmology

Background:

• Visual impairment (VI) is linked to an increased risk of cognitive impairment.
• The underlying molecular mechanisms connecting VI and cognitive impairment remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and compare the associations of specific metabolites with VI and cognitive impairment.
• To identify distinct and shared metabolic profiles between these two conditions.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the UK Biobank study, including 23,775 participants.
• Defined VI based on visual acuity and cognitive impairment based on cognitive test performance.
• Analyzed 249 metabolites using nuclear magnetic resonance profiling and logistic regression.

Main Results:

• VI was significantly associated with cognitive impairment (OR = 1.49).
• Five metabolites, including omega-3 fatty acids and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), were uniquely associated with VI.
• Glycoprotein acetyls and alanine were exclusively linked to cognitive impairment, while albumin was common to both.

Conclusions:

• Distinct and overlapping metabolite profiles were identified for VI and cognitive impairment.
• These findings suggest unique metabolic underpinnings for each condition and potential shared pathophysiology.
• Albumin emerged as a key shared metabolite between visual and cognitive impairment.