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Retinal microvascular abnormalities and cognitive function in Latino adults in Los Angeles.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Gatto, NM; Varma, R; Torres, M; Wong, TY; Johnson, PL; Segal-Gidan, F; Mack, WJ
Published in: Ophthalmic Epidemiol
June 2012

PURPOSE: Retinal vessels may provide a readily accessible surrogate approach to study vascular disease in brain small vessels. Previous epidemiologic studies of retinal microvascular abnormalities and cognition have not included large numbers of Latinos who have a high prevalence of diabetes and hypertension. METHODS: We used data from 809 elderly Latino participants in the Los Angeles Latino Eye Study (LALES) to assess whether retinal vessel caliber and microvascular abnormalities are cross-sectionally associated with lower cognitive function. Cognitive screening was conducted with the Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument-Short form (CASI-S) and in-depth testing with the Spanish English Neuropsychological Assessment Scales (SENAS). Retinal photographs were used to identify retinopathy signs and measure retinal vessel caliber. RESULTS: A total of 65.8% had high blood pressure, 34.5% had diabetes; self-reported diagnoses of heart attack, heart failure, angina and stroke were rare. Retinal calibers and any retinopathy were not associated with the CASI-S, total SENAS or any SENAS cognitive factors assessed as continuous variables. The odds of a low CASI-S score were two times higher in subjects with generalized arteriolar narrowing (OR = 2.04, 95% CI = 1.14, 3.66), and one and half times as high in those with both generalized arteriolar narrowing and retinopathy signs (OR = 1.49, 95% CI = 0.47, 4.75) though this result was based on only four cases with both risk factors and confidence limits were wide and included the null. CONCLUSION: Retinal microvasculature imaging may provide insights into small blood vessel influences on cognition in Latino populations. Additional studies in diverse populations and prospective settings are needed.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Ophthalmic Epidemiol

DOI

EISSN

1744-5086

Publication Date

June 2012

Volume

19

Issue

3

Start / End Page

127 / 136

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Risk Factors
  • Retinal Vessels
  • Retinal Diseases
  • Photography
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Male
  • Los Angeles
  • Hypertension
  • Humans
  • Hispanic or Latino
 

Citation

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Gatto, N. M., Varma, R., Torres, M., Wong, T. Y., Johnson, P. L., Segal-Gidan, F., & Mack, W. J. (2012). Retinal microvascular abnormalities and cognitive function in Latino adults in Los Angeles. Ophthalmic Epidemiol, 19(3), 127–136. https://doi.org/10.3109/09286586.2011.615452
Gatto, Nicole M., Rohit Varma, Mina Torres, Tien Y. Wong, Pam L. Johnson, Freddi Segal-Gidan, and Wendy J. Mack. “Retinal microvascular abnormalities and cognitive function in Latino adults in Los Angeles.Ophthalmic Epidemiol 19, no. 3 (June 2012): 127–36. https://doi.org/10.3109/09286586.2011.615452.
Gatto NM, Varma R, Torres M, Wong TY, Johnson PL, Segal-Gidan F, et al. Retinal microvascular abnormalities and cognitive function in Latino adults in Los Angeles. Ophthalmic Epidemiol. 2012 Jun;19(3):127–36.
Gatto, Nicole M., et al. “Retinal microvascular abnormalities and cognitive function in Latino adults in Los Angeles.Ophthalmic Epidemiol, vol. 19, no. 3, June 2012, pp. 127–36. Pubmed, doi:10.3109/09286586.2011.615452.
Gatto NM, Varma R, Torres M, Wong TY, Johnson PL, Segal-Gidan F, Mack WJ. Retinal microvascular abnormalities and cognitive function in Latino adults in Los Angeles. Ophthalmic Epidemiol. 2012 Jun;19(3):127–136.

Published In

Ophthalmic Epidemiol

DOI

EISSN

1744-5086

Publication Date

June 2012

Volume

19

Issue

3

Start / End Page

127 / 136

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Risk Factors
  • Retinal Vessels
  • Retinal Diseases
  • Photography
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Male
  • Los Angeles
  • Hypertension
  • Humans
  • Hispanic or Latino