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59/100

✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 59 out of 100. Prevention and risk

Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models

Main outcomes and measures Odds ratios (ORs) for cognitive performance in the lowest fifth percentile in at least 2 of 4 cognitive tests at baseline, or worsening results on at least 1 cognitive test at follow-up. Results A total of 32 038 people were included at baseline testing, for whom the mean age was 56.0 years and of whom 17 172 (53.6%) were women. A thinner RNFL was associated with worse cognitive performance on baseline assessment. A multivariable regression controlling for potential confounders showed that those in the thinnest quintile of RNFL were 11% more likely to fail at least 1 cognitive test (95% CI, 2.0%-2.1%; P = .01). Participants with an RNFL thickness in the 2 thinnest quintiles were almost twice as likely to have at least 1 test score be worse at follow-up cognitive testing (quintile 1: OR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.29-2.85; P Conclusions and relevance A thinner RNFL is associated with worse cognitive function in individuals without a neurodegenerative disease as well as greater likelihood of future cognitive decline.

Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris

APA 7th

Ko, F., Muthy, Z. A., Gallacher, J., Sudlow, C., Rees, G., Yang, Q., et al. (2018). Association of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thinning With Current and Future Cognitive Decline: A Study Using Optical Coherence Tomography. JAMA neurology. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2018.1578

Vancouver

Ko F, Muthy ZA, Gallacher J, Sudlow C, Rees G, Yang Q, et al. Association of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thinning With Current and Future Cognitive Decline: A Study Using Optical Coherence Tomography. JAMA neurology. 2018. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2018.1578. PMID: 29946685.

BibTeX

@article{ko2018-29946685,
  author  = {Ko, F. and Muthy, Z. A. and Gallacher, J. and Sudlow, C. and Rees, G. and Yang, Q. and Keane, P. A. and Petzold, A. and others},
  title   = {{Association of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thinning With Current and Future Cognitive Decline: A Study Using Optical Coherence Tomography}},
  journal = {JAMA neurology},
  year    = {2018},
  doi     = {10.1001/jamaneurol.2018.1578},
  pmid    = {29946685},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2018.1578}
}

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Key findings

Main outcomes and measures Odds ratios (ORs) for cognitive performance in the lowest fifth percentile in at least 2 of 4 cognitive tests at baseline, or worsening results on at least 1 cognitive test at follow-up.
Results A total of 32 038 people were included at baseline testing, for whom the mean age was 56.0 years and of whom 17 172 (53.6%) were women.
A thinner RNFL was associated with worse cognitive performance on baseline assessment.
A multivariable regression controlling for potential confounders showed that those in the thinnest quintile of RNFL were 11% more likely to fail at least 1 cognitive test (95% CI, 2.0%-2.1%; P = .01).
Participants with an RNFL thickness in the 2 thinnest quintiles were almost twice as likely to have at least 1 test score be worse at follow-up cognitive testing (quintile 1: OR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.29-2.85; P < .001; quintile 2: OR, 2.08; 95% CI, 1.40-3.08; P < .001).

Why it matters

This study found that a thinner retinal nerve fiber layer was associated with worse cognitive performance at baseline and greater likelihood of future cognitive decline in people without neurodegenerative disease. It identifies a possible marker but does not test any treatment or prevention.

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Study details

Participants38
Effect size53.6%; 2.0%; 2.1%
Evidence strengthModerate

How this study scored 59/100

Published in a leading specialty journal. Scored zero for study design and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.

Component	Points	Why
Journal tier	9 / 10	Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (JAMA neurology)
Journal's citation record	2 / 4	JAMA Neurology: journal h-index 235 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29)
Study design	0 / 12	No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Strength of evidence	3 / 5	Rated “moderate” in our summary
Peer-review validation	10 / 10	Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal.
How recent	2 / 5	2018 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here
Sample size	1 / 4	38 participants
Effect reported	2 / 3	Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test
Studied in people	3 / 3	Studied in people (participant count stated)
Randomised / blinded	0 / 2	No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Times cited	5 / 7	Cited 243 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10)
Citations per year	4 / 5	24.3 citations a year over 10 year(s) since 2018
Impact for its field and year	4 / 6	Cited 13.7× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI)
Cited by studies here	2 / 6	Cited by 4 other studies in this library
Still being cited	3 / 4	Cited 102 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex)
Senior author's track record	3 / 4	Last-listed author Praveen J. Patel: h-index 54 (OpenAlex, whole career)
Institution's track record	2 / 3	University of Oxford: institution h-index 2,205 (OpenAlex)
Multi-centre collaboration	2 / 3	OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 1 country
Indexed in PubMed	2 / 2	Indexed in PubMed (PMID 29946685)
Free to read	0 / 2	Behind a paywall — scores zero
Total	59 / 100	—

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