Abstract：
OBJECTIVE: White matter hyperintensity (WMH) is suggested to cause stroke and dementia in older adults. Retinal structural thicknesses revealed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) are associated with structural changes in the brain. We aimed to explore the association between the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and cerebral microstructural changes in participants with white matter hyperintensities (WMH).
METHODS: Seventy-four participants (37 controls, healthy control (HC), and 37 older adults with WMH) underwent retinal and brain imaging using OCT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) respectively. Peripapillary RNFL thickness was assessed by the OCT. Gray matter volume (GMV) was assessed from a T1-weighted MRI. White matter integrity was assessed with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) while WMH severity was assessed with the Fazekas scale. All participants underwent a neuropsychological examination (Mini-Mental State Examination, MMSE).
RESULTS: Older adults with WMH showed thinner peripapillary RNFL (p = 0.004) thickness when compared with the control group after adjusting for age, hypertension and gender. In our older adults with WMH, RNFL thickness correlated with fractional anisotropy (FA) in the superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) (Rho = -0.331, p < 0.001). In older adults with WMH, RNFL was significantly associated with MMSE scores (Rho = 0.422, p < 0.001) and Fazekas scores (Rho = -0.381, p = 0.022) respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: We suggest neurodegeneration of peripapillary RNFL in older adults with WMH was associated with cerebral microstructural volume, impaired cerebral axonal damage, and cognitive performances. OCT metrics may provide evidence of neurodegeneration that may underpin WMH and cerebral microstructural changes in the brain.
BACKGROUND: This study was registered online at the China Clinical Trial Registration Center (registration number: ChiCTR-ROC-17011819).
METHODS: Seventy-four participants (37 controls, healthy control (HC), and 37 older adults with WMH) underwent retinal and brain imaging using OCT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) respectively. Peripapillary RNFL thickness was assessed by the OCT. Gray matter volume (GMV) was assessed from a T1-weighted MRI. White matter integrity was assessed with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) while WMH severity was assessed with the Fazekas scale. All participants underwent a neuropsychological examination (Mini-Mental State Examination, MMSE).
RESULTS: Older adults with WMH showed thinner peripapillary RNFL (p = 0.004) thickness when compared with the control group after adjusting for age, hypertension and gender. In our older adults with WMH, RNFL thickness correlated with fractional anisotropy (FA) in the superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) (Rho = -0.331, p < 0.001). In older adults with WMH, RNFL was significantly associated with MMSE scores (Rho = 0.422, p < 0.001) and Fazekas scores (Rho = -0.381, p = 0.022) respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: We suggest neurodegeneration of peripapillary RNFL in older adults with WMH was associated with cerebral microstructural volume, impaired cerebral axonal damage, and cognitive performances. OCT metrics may provide evidence of neurodegeneration that may underpin WMH and cerebral microstructural changes in the brain.
BACKGROUND: This study was registered online at the China Clinical Trial Registration Center (registration number: ChiCTR-ROC-17011819).
摘要：
目的：白质高强度（WMH）被认为是导致老年人中风和痴呆的原因。光学相干断层扫描（OCT）显示的视网膜结构厚度与大脑的结构变化有关。我们旨在探讨白质高信号（WMH）参与者的乳头周围视网膜神经纤维层（RNFL）与脑微结构变化之间的关系。
方法：74名参与者(37名对照，健康控制（HC），和37名患有WMH）的老年人分别使用OCT和磁共振成像（MRI）进行了视网膜和脑部成像。通过OCT评估乳头周围RNFL厚度。通过T1加权MRI评估灰质体积（GMV）。用扩散张量成像（DTI）评估白质完整性，而用Fazekas量表评估WMH严重程度。所有参与者都接受了神经心理学检查(迷你精神状态检查，MMSE）。
结果：调整年龄后，与对照组相比，患有WMH的老年人表现出更薄的乳头周围RNFL厚度（p=0.004），高血压和性别。在我们患有WMH的老年人中，RNFL厚度与上纵束（SLF）的各向异性分数（FA）相关（Rho=-0.331，p<0.001）。在患有WMH的老年人中，RNFL与MMSE评分（Rho=0.422，p<0.001）和Fazekas评分（Rho=-0.381，p=0.022）显著相关。
结论：我们建议患有WMH的老年人乳头周围RNFL的神经变性与脑微结构体积有关，受损的脑轴索损伤，和认知表现。OCT度量可以提供神经变性的证据，这可能是WMH和大脑中大脑微观结构变化的基础。
背景：本研究在中国临床试验注册中心在线注册（注册编号：ChiCTR-ROC-17011819）。
方法：74名参与者(37名对照，健康控制（HC），和37名患有WMH）的老年人分别使用OCT和磁共振成像（MRI）进行了视网膜和脑部成像。通过OCT评估乳头周围RNFL厚度。通过T1加权MRI评估灰质体积（GMV）。用扩散张量成像（DTI）评估白质完整性，而用Fazekas量表评估WMH严重程度。所有参与者都接受了神经心理学检查(迷你精神状态检查，MMSE）。
结果：调整年龄后，与对照组相比，患有WMH的老年人表现出更薄的乳头周围RNFL厚度（p=0.004），高血压和性别。在我们患有WMH的老年人中，RNFL厚度与上纵束（SLF）的各向异性分数（FA）相关（Rho=-0.331，p<0.001）。在患有WMH的老年人中，RNFL与MMSE评分（Rho=0.422，p<0.001）和Fazekas评分（Rho=-0.381，p=0.022）显著相关。
结论：我们建议患有WMH的老年人乳头周围RNFL的神经变性与脑微结构体积有关，受损的脑轴索损伤，和认知表现。OCT度量可以提供神经变性的证据，这可能是WMH和大脑中大脑微观结构变化的基础。
背景：本研究在中国临床试验注册中心在线注册（注册编号：ChiCTR-ROC-17011819）。
