Shaun Frost*, Alauddin Bhuiyan, David Offerman, James D. Doecke, S. Lance Macaulay, Hamid R. Sohrabi, David Ames, Colin Masters, Ralph N. Martins, Yogesan Kanagasingam and AIBL Research Group Pages 916 - 923 ( 8 )
Objective: This study investigated the retinal arteriolar central reflex (CR, the central reflection observed in photographs of retinal vessels), which may provide information about micro-vascular health in the retina and also the brain, due to the homology between these vascular networks. The study also describes a novel computer based semi-automated technique that accurately quantifies retinal arteriolar CR and vessel width, and calculates the CR to vessel width ratio (CRR) from digital retinal photographs. <P></P> Methods: Digital retinal photographs were collected from participants in the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle study of ageing (AIBL), including 25 participants diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) (age 72.4 ± 7.5 yrs, 12 male, 13 female) and 123 elderly participants without dementia (cognitively normals: CN) (age 71.6 ± 5.6 yrs, 55 male, 68 female). Using a sub-cohort of 144 (22 AD, 122 CN) with the novel CRR measures, we identified significantly higher CRR levels in AD participants (mean CRR 0.253 (SD 0.04)) as compared with CN’s (mean CRR 0.231 (SD 0.04), p = 0.025). Adjustment for <i>APOE</i> ε4 allele status however, reduced the significance (p = 0.081). CRR was significantly higher in <i>APOE</i> ε4 allele carriers (mean CRR 0.254 (SD 0.03) as compared with non-carriers (mean CRR 0.224 (SD 0.05), p < 0.0001). <P></P> Results: These data indicate that CRR is strongly linked to <i>APOE</i> ε4 status and exhibits a weaker, independent trend with AD diagnosis. The retina may be useful as a novel model for non-invasive monitoring of the effects of <i>APOE</i> ε4 on the central nervous system, particularly in cerebrovascular disease.
Alzheimer's, retina, vision disorders, aging, diagnosis, APOE.
CSIRO, Private bag 5, Wembley, WA 6913, CSIRO Australian e-Health Research Centre/Digital Productivity Flagship, Perth, WA, Albany Hospital, Albany, CSIRO Australian e-Health Research Centre/Digital Productivity Flagship, Brisbane, QLD, CSIRO Food and Nutrition Flagship, Parkville, Alzheimer's Disease Research Lab and the McCusker Alzheimer's Research Foundation, School of Medical Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, National Ageing Research Institute, Melbourne, The Mental Health Research Institute, Melbourne, Centre of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Diseases Research and Care, Sir James McCusker Alzheimer’s Diseases Research Unit, Edith Cowan University Perth, CSIRO Australian e-Health Research Centre/Digital Productivity Flagship, Perth, WA, AIBL, Melbourne