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Lower Retinal Arteriolar Density Is Associated With Higher Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Burden: An Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Study
Le Cao, Hang Wang, Jinkui Hao, William Robert Kwapong, Zhouwei Xiong, Ruilin Wang, Chen Ye, Yitian Zhao et al.. Brain and Behavior, 2025-02-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
246 older adults (mean age = 58.84 ± 7.00 years; 38.21 % males) were included in our data analysis. After adjusting for covariates, lower retinal arteriole densities correlated with higher periventricular WMH (p = 0.025) and PVS in the basal ganglia (p = 0.027). Lower retinal venule density correlated with higher deep WMH burden (p = 0.014). Lower arteriolar density was associated with increased SVD burden (p = 0.035). Arteriolar complex branching was associated with periventricular WMH (p = 0.020) while venular complex branching was associated with deep WMH (p = 0.041). Retinal vascular changes may reflect cerebral vascular changes as evidenced by OCTA-derived metrics.
Key findings
- 246 older adults (mean age = 58.84 ± 7.00 years; 38.21 % males) were included in our data analysis.
- After adjusting for covariates, lower retinal arteriole densities correlated with higher periventricular WMH (p = 0.025) and PVS in the basal ganglia (p = 0.027).
- Lower retinal venule density correlated with higher deep WMH burden (p = 0.014).
- Lower arteriolar density was associated with increased SVD burden (p = 0.035).
- Arteriolar complex branching was associated with periventricular WMH (p = 0.020) while venular complex branching was associated with deep WMH (p = 0.041).
Why it matters
In 246 older adults, lower retinal arteriole and venule density was linked to higher small vessel disease burden in the brain. This suggests eye imaging might reflect brain vessel changes, but it is an association study and does not show any effect on treating or preventing dementia.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 40/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Brain and Behavior) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Brain and Behavior: journal h-index 92 (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 | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 8 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 2.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 4.3× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 8 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Wendan Tao: h-index 23 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Chinese Academy of Sciences: institution h-index 1,801 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 39957423) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 40 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Cao, L., Wang, H., Hao, J., Kwapong, W. R., Xiong, Z., Wang, R., et al. (2025). Lower Retinal Arteriolar Density Is Associated With Higher Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Burden: An Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Study. Brain and Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.70342
Vancouver
Cao L, Wang H, Hao J, Kwapong WR, Xiong Z, Wang R, et al. Lower Retinal Arteriolar Density Is Associated With Higher Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Burden: An Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Study. Brain and Behavior. 2025. doi:10.1002/brb3.70342. PMID: 39957423.
BibTeX
@article{cao2025-39957423,
author = {Cao, Le and Wang, Hang and Hao, Jinkui and Kwapong, William Robert and Xiong, Zhouwei and Wang, Ruilin and Ye, Chen and Zhao, Yitian and others},
title = {{Lower Retinal Arteriolar Density Is Associated With Higher Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Burden: An Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Study}},
journal = {Brain and Behavior},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1002/brb3.70342},
pmid = {39957423},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.70342}
}
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