Association between retinal layer thickness and cerebral white matter hyperintensities in older adults

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundThe brain and retina may share pathophysiological mechanisms in various central nervous system disorders, suggesting the potential associations between retinal layer thickness and cerebral white matter hyperintensities (WMH).MethodA total of 149 participants without dementia aged over 65 years (mean age: 75.4, SD: 5.4, range: 65‐91; male: 90 [60.4%]) from the randomly sampled community‐dwelling prospective cohort were included in the analysis. Using spectral‐domain optical coherence tomography, we assessed the thickness of 6 retinal layers in the macular region, the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layers, and the subfoveal choroid. We classified WMH into 3 groups using the distance from the ventricle surface: juxtaventricular (JVWMH, < 4mm), periventricular (PVWMH, >4mm, <14mm), and deep WMH (DWMH > = 14mm). The associations between retinal layer thickness and WMH volume were examined using linear regression models adjusting age, sex, comorbid hypertension, and diabetes.ResultThe thicknesses of superior outer, inferior outer ganglion cell layers (GCL) and superior outer, inferior outer, total outer inner plexiform layers (IPL) were negatively associated with the total WMH, PVWMH, and DWMH volumes. Reduced thicknesses of total outer GCL and temporal outer inner nuclear layer (INL) were associated with higher total WMH and PVWMH volumes. Center GCL thickness was positively associated with JVWMH volume, and nasal outer GCL thickness was negatively associated with DWMH volume.ConclusionOuter GCL and IPL thicknesses may be associated with WMH volume in older adults. This study may also suggest differential associations based on etiology between retinal layer subfields and WMH subgroups.