Biomedical Research

The aim of this study was to compare mean retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (MRNFLT) in cases with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild and moderate Alzheimer type dementia (ATD) with normal individuals. We evaluated 54 eyes of 27 patients with the diagnosis of mild and moderate ATD and MCI and 32 eyes of 16 people, as control group who are compatible with the other age group. Diagnosis of ATD was made according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV) and diagnosis of MCI was made according to Petersen criteria. Mini mental state examination (MMSE) was applied to patient and control group. There was no significantly difference in terms of age and gender between groups. MRNFLT were significantly decreased in MCI group than control group. In general patient group MRNFLT levels were not significantly lower than the control group, but general trend was a decrease direction. Correlation was not detected between cognitive decline and MRNFLT loss degree. Statistically significant difference was not observed in MRNLFT values, between MCI, mild and moderate ATD patient groups. RNFLT measurement with HRT is an easy method which may be useful to show the retinal effects of the disease in patients with MCI and mild and moderate Alzheimer type dementia. Our data show that; RNFLT is reduced in patients with MCI. However, the increase in the severity of cognitive decline does not effect on RNFLT.

Author(s): Gokcen Akar, Eren Gozke, Yasemin Agirman, Sevda Aydin Kurna
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