Observation Study of the Retina with the Alzheimer’s Disease or Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment Patients

Abstract

Objective: We investigated the regularity changes of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and macular ganglion cell complex (mGCC) of the Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI) patients. Methods: 24 AD patients, 22 aMCI patients and 30 health controls whose age were above 60 years old were recruited in the study. The RNFL thickness and the mGCC average thickness were measured by Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT). Results: Compared with the controls, we found statistically significant lower of the intraocular pressure (IOP) in the AD and aMCI patients. When compared with the AD patients and controls, aMCI patients showed a significant decrease in RNFL thickness in ST (Superior Temporal), TU (Temporal Upper) and temporal (TU+TL) quadrants. The average thickness of the mGCC was significantly thinner in the aMCI patients than in the AD patients and Controls. The Gross Loss of Volume (GLV) was significantly higher in the aMCI group than in the patients and Controls. Conclusion: AD and aMCI patients had lower IOP, but there was no evidence that IOP would decrease with the progression of disease. Retinal degeneration in the aMCI patients detected by OCT may be a pathological indicator of the disease.