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Sci Rep. 2020 Jan 31;10(1):1580. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-58399-4.

Evaluation of macular thickness and volume tested by optical coherence tomography as biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease in a memory clinic.

Author information

1
Research Center and Memory Clinic, Fundació ACE, Institut Català de Neurociències Aplicades, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain. dsanchez@fundacioace.com.
2
Clínica Oftalmológica Dr. Castilla, Barcelona, Spain.
3
Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital de l'Esperança, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain.
4
Research Center and Memory Clinic, Fundació ACE, Institut Català de Neurociències Aplicades, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain.
5
Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
6
Topcon España Clinical Affairs, Sant Just Desvern, Spain.
7
Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile.
8
Iberoamerican Cochrane Centre, Barcelona, Spain.
9
Diabetes and Metabolism Research Unit and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólica Asociada (CIBERDEM), Vall d'Hebron Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain.

Abstract

Building on previous studies that report thinning of the macula in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients, the use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) has been proposed as a potential biomarker for AD. However, other studies contradict these results. A total of 930 participants (414 cognitively healthy people, 192 with probable amnestic MCI, and 324 probable AD patients) from a memory clinic were consecutively included in this study and underwent a spectral domain OCT scan (Maestro, Topcon) to assess total macular volume and thickness. Macular width measurements were also taken in several subregions (central, inner, and outer rings) and in layers such as the retinal nerve fiber (RNFL) and ganglion cell (CGL). The study employed a design of high ecological validity, with adjustment by age, education, sex, and OCT image quality. AD, MCI, and control groups did not significantly vary with regard to volume and retinal thickness in different layers. When these groups were compared, multivariate-adjusted analysis disclosed no significant differences in total (p = 0.564), CGL (p = 0.267), RNFL (p = 0.574), and macular thickness and volume (p = 0.380). The only macular regions showing significant differences were the superior (p = 0.040) and nasal (p = 0.040) sectors of the inner macular ring. However, adjustment for multiple comparisons nullified this significance. These results are not supporting existing claims for the usefulness of macular thickness as a biomarker of cognitive impairment in a memory unit. OCT biomarkers for AD should be subject to further longitudinal testing.

PMID:
32005868
DOI:
10.1038/s41598-020-58399-4
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