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Retinal vascular fractals and cognitive impairment.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Ong, Y-T; Hilal, S; Cheung, CY-L; Xu, X; Chen, C; Venketasubramanian, N; Wong, TY; Ikram, MK
Published in: Dement Geriatr Cogn Dis Extra
May 2014

BACKGROUND: Retinal microvascular network changes have been found in patients with age-related brain diseases such as stroke and dementia including Alzheimer's disease. We examine whether retinal microvascular network changes are also present in preclinical stages of dementia. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of 300 Chinese participants (age: ≥60 years) from the ongoing Epidemiology of Dementia in Singapore study who underwent detailed clinical examinations including retinal photography, brain imaging and neuropsychological testing. Retinal vascular parameters were assessed from optic disc-centered photographs using a semiautomated program. A comprehensive neuropsychological battery was administered, and cognitive function was summarized as composite and domain-specific Z-scores. Cognitive impairment no dementia (CIND) and dementia were diagnosed according to standard diagnostic criteria. RESULTS: Among 268 eligible nondemented participants, 78 subjects were categorized as CIND-mild and 69 as CIND-moderate. In multivariable adjusted models, reduced retinal arteriolar and venular fractal dimensions were associated with an increased risk of CIND-mild and CIND-moderate. Reduced fractal dimensions were associated with poorer cognitive performance globally and in the specific domains of verbal memory, visuoconstruction and visuomotor speed. CONCLUSION: A sparser retinal microvascular network, represented by reduced arteriolar and venular fractal dimensions, was associated with cognitive impairment, suggesting that early microvascular damage may be present in preclinical stages of dementia.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Dement Geriatr Cogn Dis Extra

DOI

ISSN

1664-5464

Publication Date

May 2014

Volume

4

Issue

2

Start / End Page

305 / 313

Location

Switzerland
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Ong, Y.-T., Hilal, S., Cheung, C.-L., Xu, X., Chen, C., Venketasubramanian, N., … Ikram, M. K. (2014). Retinal vascular fractals and cognitive impairment. Dement Geriatr Cogn Dis Extra, 4(2), 305–313. https://doi.org/10.1159/000363286
Ong, Yi-Ting, Saima Hilal, Carol Yim-Lui Cheung, Xin Xu, Christopher Chen, Narayanaswamy Venketasubramanian, Tien Yin Wong, and Mohammad Kamran Ikram. “Retinal vascular fractals and cognitive impairment.Dement Geriatr Cogn Dis Extra 4, no. 2 (May 2014): 305–13. https://doi.org/10.1159/000363286.
Ong Y-T, Hilal S, Cheung CY-L, Xu X, Chen C, Venketasubramanian N, et al. Retinal vascular fractals and cognitive impairment. Dement Geriatr Cogn Dis Extra. 2014 May;4(2):305–13.
Ong, Yi-Ting, et al. “Retinal vascular fractals and cognitive impairment.Dement Geriatr Cogn Dis Extra, vol. 4, no. 2, May 2014, pp. 305–13. Pubmed, doi:10.1159/000363286.
Ong Y-T, Hilal S, Cheung CY-L, Xu X, Chen C, Venketasubramanian N, Wong TY, Ikram MK. Retinal vascular fractals and cognitive impairment. Dement Geriatr Cogn Dis Extra. 2014 May;4(2):305–313.
Journal cover image

Published In

Dement Geriatr Cogn Dis Extra

DOI

ISSN

1664-5464

Publication Date

May 2014

Volume

4

Issue

2

Start / End Page

305 / 313

Location

Switzerland