Abnormal retinal thickness in patients with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease

Neurosci Lett. 2007 Jun 13;420(2):97-9. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2007.02.090. Epub 2007 Mar 19.

Abstract

In Alzheimer's disease (AD), brain lesions are marked by severe neuronal loss and retinal degeneration was previously mentioned in affected patients. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a clinical syndrome that could be an early phase of AD. In this study, using optical coherence tomography (OCT), the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness was assessed in patients with mild AD, moderate to severe AD, amnestic MCI and control subjects. The results show that RNFL thickness is statistically reduced in patients with MCI, mild AD or moderate to severe AD compared to controls. In addition, no statistical difference was found between the results in MCI patients and mild AD patients. The RNFL seems to be involved early during the course of amnestic MCI and OCT tests could be carried out in patients with cognitive troubles.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alzheimer Disease / complications*
  • Alzheimer Disease / diagnosis*
  • Alzheimer Disease / psychology
  • Cognition Disorders / complications*
  • Cognition Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Early Diagnosis
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Retina / pathology*
  • Retina / physiopathology
  • Retinal Degeneration / etiology*
  • Retinal Degeneration / physiopathology
  • Retinal Ganglion Cells / pathology
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence