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Retinal microvasculature dysfunction is associated with Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment
Chua J, Hu Q, Ke M, Tan B, Hong J, Yao X, Hilal S, Venketasubramanian N et al.. Alzheimer's research & therapy, 2020-12-04
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Background The retina and brain share many neuronal and vasculature characteristics. We investigated the retinal microvasculature in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Methods In this cross-sectional study, 24 AD participants, 37 MCI participants, and 29 controls were diagnosed according to internationally accepted criteria. OCTA images of the superficial and deep capillary plexus (SCP, DCP) of the retinal microvasculature were obtained using a commercial OCTA system (Zeiss Cirrus HD-5000 with AngioPlex, Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA). The main outcome measures were vessel density (VD) and fractal dimension (FD) in the SCP and DCP within a 2.5-mm ring around the fovea which were compared between groups. Perfusion density of large vessels and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area were additional outcome parameters. Results Age, gender, and race did not differ among groups. However, there was a significant difference in diabetes status (P = 0.039) and systolic blood pressure (P = 0.008) among the groups. After adjusting for confounders, AD participants showed significantly decreased VD in SCP and DCP (P = 0.006 and P = 0.015, respectively) and decreased FD in SCP (P = 0.006), compared to controls. MCI participants showed significantly decreased VD and FD only in SCP (P = 0.006 and P < 0.001, respectively) and not the DCP (P > 0.05) compared with controls. There was no difference in the OCTA variables between AD and MCI (P > 0.05). Perfusion density of large vessels and FAZ area did not differ significantly between groups (P > 0.05). Conclusions and relevance Eyes of patients with AD have significantly reduced macular VD in both plexuses whereas MCI participants only showed reduction in the superficial plexus. Changes in the retinal microvasculature and capillary network may offer a valuable insight on the brain in AD.
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APA 7th
Chua, J., Hu, Q., Ke, M., Tan, B., Hong, J., Yao, X., et al. (2020). Retinal microvasculature dysfunction is associated with Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment. Alzheimer's research & therapy. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13195-020-00724-0
Vancouver
Chua J, Hu Q, Ke M, Tan B, Hong J, Yao X, et al. Retinal microvasculature dysfunction is associated with Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment. Alzheimer's research & therapy. 2020. doi:10.1186/s13195-020-00724-0. PMID: 33276820.
BibTeX
@article{chua2020-33276820,
author = {Chua, J. and Hu, Q. and Ke, M. and Tan, B. and Hong, J. and Yao, X. and Hilal, S. and Venketasubramanian, N. and others},
title = {{Retinal microvasculature dysfunction is associated with Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment}},
journal = {Alzheimer's research \& therapy},
year = {2020},
doi = {10.1186/s13195-020-00724-0},
pmid = {33276820},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s13195-020-00724-0}
}
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Key findings
- Results Age, gender, and race did not differ among groups.
- However, there was a significant difference in diabetes status (P = 0.039) and systolic blood pressure (P = 0.008) among the groups.
- After adjusting for confounders, AD participants showed significantly decreased VD in SCP and DCP (P = 0.006 and P = 0.015, respectively) and decreased FD in SCP (P = 0.006), compared to controls.
- MCI participants showed significantly decreased VD and FD only in SCP (P = 0.006 and P < 0.001, respectively) and not the DCP (P > 0.05) compared with controls.
- Perfusion density of large vessels and FAZ area did not differ significantly between groups (P > 0.05).
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Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 48/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a snapshot of people at one point in time. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on journal's citation record, times cited, citations per year, impact for its field and year, cited by studies here, still being cited, senior author's track record, institution's track record and multi-centre collaboration, so those were left out: it earned 28 of the 58 points we could judge it on, which is 48 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Alzheimer's research & therapy) |
| Journal's citation record | — / 4 | No journal record from OpenAlex — left out of this score |
| Study design | 4 / 12 | A snapshot of people at one point in time |
| 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 | 2 / 5 | 2020 — within 10 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 | — / 7 | No citation count (not found in OpenAlex) — left out of this score |
| Citations per year | — / 5 | No citation count or no year — left out of this score |
| Impact for its field and year | — / 6 | No field-weighted citation impact (OpenAlex has none yet) — left out of this score |
| Cited by studies here | — / 6 | Not yet checked against this library's citation graph — left out of this score |
| Still being cited | — / 4 | No yearly citation counts — left out of this score |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | Senior author's record not available — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | — / 3 | No institution listed in OpenAlex — left out of this score |
| Multi-centre collaboration | — / 3 | Institutions not listed — left out of this score |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 33276820) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Points | 28 / 58 | Scored on 11 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 28 of the 58 points we could judge it on is 48 out of 100. |
| Total | 48 / 100 | — |
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