Ocular vascular changes in relatives at high genetic risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease: foveal avascular zone and choroidal thickness

• Published in: Acta ophthalmologica (Oxford, England) England), 2022-01, Vol.100 (S267), p.n/a
• Main Authors: López‐Cuenca, Inés, Salobrar‐Garcia, Elena, Alcántara‐Rey, Celia, Elvira‐Hurtado, Lorena, Fernández‐Albarral, José A., Rojas, P., Isabel Ramirez, Ana, Salazar, J.J., Barabash, Ana, Manuel Ramirez, Jose, Hoz, Rosa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alleles; Alzheimer's disease; Angiography; Apolipoprotein E; Dementia disorders; Eye examinations; Gene expression; Health risk assessment; Macular degeneration; Neurodegenerative diseases; Retina; Risk factors; Statistical analysis
• ISSN: 1755-375X; 1755-3768
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2022.194

Purpose Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. In addition to the age,a family history (FH+) of AD and ɛ4 allele of the ApoE gene are the main genetic risk factors for developing the disease. However, ɛ4 allele of ApoE plays a protective role in age‐related macular degeneration. In both pathologies vascular changes have been reported in the retina and the choroid. The aim of this study was analyzed ocular vascular changes in subject with high genetic risks for developing AD. Methods A complete eye examination was carried out in 184 cognitively healthy subjects. We analyzed the choroidal thickness using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) using OCT‐angiography (OCTA) and compared the results with ApoE gene expression, AD FH+, and the presence or absence of hard drusen (HD). Results Choroidal thickness was statistically significantly different (p