Peripapillary Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in Alzheimer's Disease, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Normal Cognition.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify peripapillary microvascular changes in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this prospective study, 66 eyes of 36 subjects with AD, 119 eyes of 63 with MCI, and 513 eyes of 265 controls with normal cognition were enrolled. Peripapillary capillary perfusion density (CPD), capillary flux index (CFI), and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness were determined. RESULTS: Average CPD differed significantly between all three groups (P = 0.001), being significantly greater in AD vs controls (0.446 ± 0.015 vs 0.439 ± 0.017, P = 0.001) and MCI vs controls (0.443 ± 0.020 vs 0.439 ± 0.017, P = 0.007) but not AD vs MCI (P = 0.69). CFI and average RNFL thickness did not significantly differ among groups (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Peripapillary CPD is increased in eyes with AD or MCI compared to controls despite similar RNFL thickness. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina 2024;55:78-84.].

Duke Scholars

Author Dilraj Singh Grewal Ophthalmology, Vitreoretinal Diseases & Surgery

Author Sharon Fekrat Ophthalmology, Vitreoretinal Diseases & Surgery

Author Andrew John Liu Neurology, Behavioral Neurology

Author Sandra Sue Stinnett Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, Division of Biostatistics