Journal Article

Association of Cognitive Function and Retinal Neural and Vascular Structure in Type 1 Diabetes

Bahnam, Vanessa, Adam, Atif, Aiello, Lloyd P, Shah, Hetal, Wolfson, Emily A, Fickweiler, Ward, Paniagua, Samantha M, King, George L, Musen, Gail, Yu, Marc Gregory, Sampani, Konstantina, Wu, I-Hsien, Sun, Jennifer K

2021

Overview

Abstract Context Cognitive dysfunction is a growing and understudied public health issue in the aging type 1 diabetic population and is difficult and time-consuming to diagnose. Studies in long duration type 1 diabetes have reported the presence of proliferative diabetic retinopathy was associated with cognitive dysfunction. Objective This study assessed whether structural and vascular abnormalities of the retina, representing an extension of the central nervous system, are associated with cognitive impairment and other complications of type 1 diabetes. Methods An observational cross-sectional study of individuals with 50 or more years of type 1 diabetes (Joslin Medalist Study) was conducted at a university hospital in the United States. The study included 129 participants with complete cognitive testing. Validated cognitive testing measures included psychomotor speed, and immediate, and delayed memory. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) were performed to obtain neural retinal layer thicknesses and vascular density for superficial (SCP) and deep retinal capillary plexus (DCP). Multivariable modeling was adjusted for potential confounders associated with outcomes in unadjusted analyses. Results Decreased vessel density of the SCP and DCP was associated with worse delayed memory (DCP: P = .002) and dominant hand psychomotor speed (SCP: P = .01). Thinning of the retinal outer nuclear layer was associated with worse psychomotor speed both in nondominant and dominant hands (P = .01 and P = .05, respectively). Outer plexiform layer thickness was associated with delayed memory (P = .04). Conclusion These findings suggest that noninvasive retinal imaging using OCT and OCTA may assist in estimating the risks for cognitive dysfunction in people with type 1 diabetes.

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Subject: Aged / Angiography / Angiography - methods / Capillaries - diagnostic imaging / Capillaries - pathology / Case-Control Studies / Central nervous system / Clinical s / Cognition / Cognition - physiology / Cognition disorders / Cognitive ability / Cohort Studies / Cross-Sectional Studies / Diabetes / Diabetes mellitus (insulin dependent) / Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - complications / Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - diagnosis / Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - pathology / Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - psychology / Diabetic retinopathy / Diabetic Retinopathy - diagnosis / Diabetic Retinopathy - pathology / Diabetic Retinopathy - psychology / Diagnosis / Female / Health aspects / Humans / Male / Memory / Middle Aged / Public health / Retina / Retina - diagnostic imaging / Retina - pathology / Retinal Neurons - pathology / Retinal Vessels - diagnostic imaging / Retinal Vessels - pathology / Retinopathy / Tomography, Optical Coherence - methods / Type 2 diabetes / United States