Association of corneal nerve fiber measures with cognitive function in dementia. Issue 4 (2nd March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ponirakis, Georgios; Al Hamad, Hanadi; Sankaranarayanan, Anoop; Khan, Adnan; Chandran, Mani; Ramadan, Marwan; Tosino, Rhia; Gawhale, Priya Vitthal; Alobaidi, Maryam; AlSulaiti, Essa; Elsotouhy, Ahmed; Elorrabi, Marwa; Khan, Shafi; Nadukkandiyil, Navas; Osman, Susan; Thodi, Noushad; Almuhannadi, Hamad; Gad, Hoda; Mahfoud, Ziyad R.; Al‐Shibani, Fatima; Petropoulos, Ioannis N.; Own, Ahmed; Al Kuwari, Maryam; Shuaib, Ashfaq; Malik, Rayaz A.
• Is Part Of: Annals of clinical and translational neurology. Volume 6:Issue 4(2019)
• Page Start: 689
• Page End: 697
• Publication Date: 2019-03-02
• Subjects: Nervous system -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; 616.8005
• DOI: 10.1002/acn3.746
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2328-9503

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: Corneal confocal microscopy (CCM) is a noninvasive ophthalmic technique that identifies corneal nerve degeneration in a range of peripheral neuropathies and in patients with multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We sought to determine whether there is any association of corneal nerve fiber measures with cognitive function and functional independence in patients with MCI and dementia. Methods: In this study, 76 nondiabetic participants with MCI ( n = 30), dementia ( n = 26), and healthy age‐matched controls ( n = 20) underwent assessment of cognitive and physical function and CCM. Results: There was a progressive reduction in corneal nerve fiber density (CNFD), branch density (CNBD), and fiber length (CNFL) ( P < 0.0001) in patients with MCI and dementia compared to healthy controls. Adjusted for confounders, all three corneal nerve fiber measures were significantly associated with cognitive function ( P < 0.05) and functional independence ( P < 0.01) in MCI and dementia. The area under the ROC curve to distinguish MCI with CNFD, CNBD, and CNFL was 69.1%, 73.2%, and 73.0% and for dementia it was 84.8%, 84.2%, and 86.2%, respectively. Interpretation: CCM demonstrates corneal nerve fiber loss, which is associated with a decline in cognitive function and functional independence in patients with MCI and dementia.