Retinal microvascular network geometry and cognitive abilities in community-dwelling older people: The Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 study

TY - JOUR

T1 - Retinal microvascular network geometry and cognitive abilities in community-dwelling older people

T2 - The Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 study

AU - McGrory, Sarah

AU - Taylor, Adele M.

AU - Kirin, Mirna

AU - Corley, Janie

AU - Pattie, Alison

AU - Cox, Simon R.

AU - Dhillon, Baljean

AU - Wardlaw, Joanna M.

AU - Doubal, Fergus N.

AU - Starr, John M.

AU - Trucco, Emanuele

AU - MacGillivray, Thomas J.

AU - Deary, Ian J.

N1 - The authors would also like to acknowledge the Croatian Science Foundation (grant 8875). LBC1936 data were collected using a Research Into Ageing programme grant, and this research continues to be supported by the Age UK-funded Disconnected Mind project. The work was undertaken in the Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, part of the cross council Lifelong Health and Wellbeing Initiative (MR/K026992/1). UK's Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (grant number EP/M005976/1), the Wellcome Trust (grant number 075611) and Medical Research Council.

PY - 2017/7/1

Y1 - 2017/7/1

N2 - Aim: To examine the relationship between retinal vascular morphology and cognitive abilities in a narrow-age cohort of community-dwelling older people. Methods: Digital retinal images taken at age ∼73 years from 683 participants of the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 (LBC1936) were analysed with Singapore I Vessel Assessment (SIVA) software. Multiple regression models were applied to determine cross-sectional associations between retinal vascular parameters and general cognitive ability (g), memory, processing speed, visuospatial ability, crystallised cognitive ability and change in IQ from childhood to older age. Results: After adjustment for cognitive ability at age 11 years and cardiovascular risk factors, venular length-to-diameter ratio was nominally significantly associated with processing speed (β=−0.116, p=0.01) and g (β=−0.079, p=0.04). Arteriolar length-to-diameter ratio was associated with visuospatial ability (β=0.092, p=0.04). Decreased arteriolar junctional exponent deviation and increased arteriolar branching coefficient values were associated with less relative decline in IQ between childhood and older age (arteriolar junctional exponent deviation: β=−0.101, p=0.02; arteriolar branching coefficient: β=0.089, p=0.04). Data are presented as standardised β coefficients (β) reflecting change in cognitive domain score associated with an increase of 1 SD unit in retinal parameter. None of these nominally significant associations remained significant after correction for multiple statistical testing. Conclusions: Retinal parameters contributed <1% of the variance in the majority of associations observed. Whereas retinal analysis may have potential for early detection of some types of age-related cognitive decline and dementia, our results present little evidence that retinal vascular features are associated with non-pathological cognitive ageing.

AB - Aim: To examine the relationship between retinal vascular morphology and cognitive abilities in a narrow-age cohort of community-dwelling older people. Methods: Digital retinal images taken at age ∼73 years from 683 participants of the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 (LBC1936) were analysed with Singapore I Vessel Assessment (SIVA) software. Multiple regression models were applied to determine cross-sectional associations between retinal vascular parameters and general cognitive ability (g), memory, processing speed, visuospatial ability, crystallised cognitive ability and change in IQ from childhood to older age. Results: After adjustment for cognitive ability at age 11 years and cardiovascular risk factors, venular length-to-diameter ratio was nominally significantly associated with processing speed (β=−0.116, p=0.01) and g (β=−0.079, p=0.04). Arteriolar length-to-diameter ratio was associated with visuospatial ability (β=0.092, p=0.04). Decreased arteriolar junctional exponent deviation and increased arteriolar branching coefficient values were associated with less relative decline in IQ between childhood and older age (arteriolar junctional exponent deviation: β=−0.101, p=0.02; arteriolar branching coefficient: β=0.089, p=0.04). Data are presented as standardised β coefficients (β) reflecting change in cognitive domain score associated with an increase of 1 SD unit in retinal parameter. None of these nominally significant associations remained significant after correction for multiple statistical testing. Conclusions: Retinal parameters contributed <1% of the variance in the majority of associations observed. Whereas retinal analysis may have potential for early detection of some types of age-related cognitive decline and dementia, our results present little evidence that retinal vascular features are associated with non-pathological cognitive ageing.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84992159486

U2 - 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2016-309017

DO - 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2016-309017

M3 - Article

C2 - 28400371

AN - SCOPUS:84992159486

SN - 0007-1161

VL - 101

SP - 993

EP - 998

JO - British Journal of Ophthalmology

JF - British Journal of Ophthalmology

IS - 7

ER -