A Potential Association Between Retinal Changes, Subjective Memory Impairment, and Anxiety in Older Adults at Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease: A 27-Month Pilot Study

Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience

Louisa Thompson¹  Peter J. Snyder²  Derrick L. Cheng³ 

[1] Department of Neurology, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States;The Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States;The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, United States;

关键词: preclinical Alzheimer’s disease;    subjective memory impairment;    retinal nerve fiber layer;    retinal biomarkers;    Alzheimer’s disease;    subjective cognitive decline;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fnagi.2019.00288

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

IntroductionThe utility of subjective memory impairment (SMI) as a risk marker for preclinical Alzheimer’s disease (AD) remains unclear; however, recent studies have identified a correlation between retinal biomarkers and onset of preclinical disease. This study examines the relationship between retinal biomarkers that have been associated with cerebral amyloid, an early hallmark of AD, and SMI scores in patients at risk for developing AD.MethodsForty-nine cognitively normal subjects were followed over 27 months and evaluated using a combination of neuropsychological, psychological, and retinal imaging instruments. Subjective memory testing was conducted using the memory assessment clinic questionnaire (MACQ) and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS). Multivariate linear analysis was conducted using STATA software.ResultsPositive correlations were found between retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) volume and scores obtained from the MAC-Q at 27 months (MAC-Q_27), the DASS questionnaire for anxiety at 27 months (DASS-A_27), and the change in DASS-A over 27 months (dDASSA). There was also a significant positive correlation between these variables and the change in RNFL thickness over 27 months (dRNFL). MACQ_27, DASSA_27, and dDASS-A accounted for 35.7% of RFNL variance at 27 months and 21.5% of dRFNL variance.DiscussionThese findings suggest that worse subjective memory complaints and anxiety scores may be associated with one of the most commonly used structural anatomical retinal markers of early disease burden in AD. If so, these results lend support to SMI as a valid risk marker for later cognitive decline.

【 授权许可】

Unknown