Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39716304›Full record

ArticleAlzheimer's research & therapy2024

Retinal thickness predicts the risk of cognitive decline over five years.

Leila Sara Eppenberger, Chi Li, Damon Wong, Bingyao Tan, Gerhard Garhöfer, Saima Hilal, Eddie Chong, An Qi Toh, Narayanaswamy Venketasubramanian, Christopher Li-Hsian Chen and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Alzheimer's research & therapy, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
10citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

10 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Complement in brain and eye disease: shared mechanisms, convergent pathologies, and common therapeutic opportunities.Mammalian genome : official journal of the International Mammalian Genome Society · 2026
    Review
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness in Children: The Ural Children Eye Study.Investigative ophthalmology & visual science · 2025
    Article
  9. Article
  10. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Leila Sara Eppenberger *Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore, Singapore.
Chi Li *Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore, Singapore.
Damon WongSingapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore, Singapore.
Bingyao TanSingapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore, Singapore.
Gerhard GarhöferDepartment of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Saima HilalMemory Aging and Cognition Centre, Departments of Pharmacology and Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
Eddie ChongMemory Aging and Cognition Centre, Departments of Pharmacology and Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
An Qi TohMemory Aging and Cognition Centre, Departments of Pharmacology and Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
Narayanaswamy VenketasubramanianMemory Aging and Cognition Centre, Departments of Pharmacology and Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
Christopher Li-Hsian ChenMemory Aging and Cognition Centre, Departments of Pharmacology and Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
Leopold SchmettererSingapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore, Singapore. leopold.schmetterer@meduniwien.ac.at.
Jacqueline ChuaSingapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore, Singapore. jacqueline.chua.y.m@seri.com.sg.

Funding

Agency for Science, Technology and Research A20H4b0141Khoo Bridge Funding Award Duke-NUS-KBrFA/2024/088National Medical Research Council OFLCG/004c/2018-00; MOH-000249-00; MOH-000647-00; MOH-001001-00; MOH-001015-00; MOH-000500-00; MOH-000707-00; MOH-001072-06; MOH-001286-00National Research Foundation Singapore NRF2019-THE002-0006 and NRF-CRP24-2020-0001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDementia poses a significant burden on healthcare systems. Early identification of individuals at risk for cognitive decline is crucial. The retina, an extension of the central nervous system, reflects neurodegenerative changes. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive tool for assessing retinal health and has shown promise in predicting cognitive decline. However, prior studies produced mixed results.

methodsThis study investigated a large cohort (n = 490) of Asian individuals attending memory clinics. Participants underwent comprehensive neuropsychological testing annually for five years. Retinal thickness was measured by OCT at baseline. We assessed the association between baseline retinal thickness and subsequent cognitive decline.

resultsParticipants with a significantly thinner macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) at baseline (≤ 79 μm) had a 38% greater risk of cognitive decline compared to those who did not (≥ 88 μm; p = 0.037). In a multivariable model accounting for age, education, cerebrovascular disease status, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes and smoking, thinner GCIPL was associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline (hazard ratio = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.01-1.30, p = 0.035). Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness was not associated with cognitive decline.

conclusionsThis study suggests that OCT-derived macular GCIPL thickness may be a valuable biomarker for identifying individuals at risk of cognitive decline. Our findings highlight GCIPL as a potentially more sensitive marker compared to RNFL thickness for detecting early neurodegenerative changes. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER AND NAME OF THE TRIAL REGISTRY: National Healthcare Group Domain-Specific Review Board (NHG DSRB) reference numbers DSRB Ref: 2018/01368. Name of the trial: Harmonisation project.

Indexed as

Cognitive DysfunctionRetinaTomography, Optical CoherenceAgedCohort StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedNeuropsychological TestsRetinal Ganglion CellsRisk FactorsCognitive declineCognitive impairmentDementiaOptical coherence tomography (OCT)Retinal ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL)

Identifiers

PMID39716304
PMCPMC11664827

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.