Clinical Ophthalmology (Oct 2020)

Evaluation of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer and Ganglion Cell Layer Thickness in Alzheimer’s Disease Using Optical Coherence Tomography

  • Jindahra P,
  • Hengsiri N,
  • Witoonpanich P,
  • Poonyathalang A,
  • Pulkes T,
  • Tunlayadechanont S,
  • Thadanipon K,
  • Vanikieti K

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 14
pp. 2995 – 3000

Abstract

Read online

Panitha Jindahra,1 Nitchanan Hengsiri,1 Pirada Witoonpanich,1 Anuchit Poonyathalang,2 Teeratorn Pulkes,1 Supoch Tunlayadechanont,1 Kunlawat Thadanipon,3 Kavin Vanikieti2 1Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; 2Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; 3Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, ThailandCorrespondence: Kavin Vanikieti Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi HospitalMahidol University, 270 Rama VI Road, Bangkok 10400, ThailandTel +662 201 1526Fax +662 201 2729Email [email protected]: To evaluate the feasibility of using optical coherence tomography (OCT) for the detection of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), by measuring the thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and the ganglion cell layer and inner plexiform layer (GCL-IPL).Material and Methods: This was a single-center, cross-sectional study. The study included 29 patients with AD (mean age ± standard deviation: 75.61 ± 6.24 years) and 29 healthy age- and sex-matched controls. All participants underwent cognitive evaluations using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment test. Measurements of the RNFL thickness, as well as GCL-IPL thickness, were obtained for all participants using OCT. Both RNFL and GCL-IPL parameters were adjusted for best-corrected visual acuity, hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia.Results: The mean RNFL thickness was significantly thinner in the AD group than in the control group (85.24 and 90.68 μm, respectively, adjusted P=0.014). The superior quadrant was thinner in the AD group (adjusted P=0.033). The thicknesses did not differ significantly between groups for the other quadrants. The mean GCL-IPL thickness in the AD (68.81 μm) was significantly thinner than that in the controls (76.42 μm) (adjusted P=0.014). Overall, there was a negative correlation between age and mean RNFL; and between age and GCL-IPL thickness (r=− 0.338, P=0.010 and r=− 0.346, P=0.008, respectively).Conclusion: The mean RNFL and GCL-IPL thicknesses were thinner in the AD group than in the control group. These findings suggest that RNFL and GCL-IPL thickness may be biological markers for AD.Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, optical coherence tomography, retinal nerve fiber layer, ganglion cell layer, dementia

Keywords