Eye Adult Changes in Thought (Eye ACT) Study: Design and Report on the Inaugural Cohort

• Published in: Journal of Alzheimer's disease 2024-01, Vol.100 (1), p.309-320
• Main Authors: Lee, Cecilia S, Ferguson, Alina N, Gibbons, Laura E, Walker, Rod, Su, Yu-Ru, Krakauer, Chloe, Brush, Michael, Kam, Jason, Larson, Eric B, Arterburn, David E, Crane, Paul K
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acuity; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alzheimer Disease - diagnostic imaging; Alzheimer's disease; Biomarkers; Cohort Studies; Dementia; Dementia - diagnostic imaging; Dementia disorders; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetic retinopathy; Eye; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neurodegenerative diseases; Older people; Prospective Studies; Research Design; Retina; Retina - diagnostic imaging; Retinal images; Retinopathy; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Vision Disorders; Visual acuity; Visual perception
• ISSN: 1387-2877; 1875-8908; 1875-8908
• DOI: 10.3233/JAD-240203

Conflicting research on retinal biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD) is likely related to limited sample sizes, study design, and protocol differences. The prospective Eye Adult Changes in Thought (Eye ACT) seeks to address these gaps. Eye ACT participants are recruited from ACT, an ongoing cohort of dementia-free, older adults followed biennially until AD/ADRD, and undergo visual function and retinal imaging assessment either in clinic or at home. 330 participants were recruited as of 03/2023. Compared to ACT participants not in Eye ACT (N = 1868), Eye ACT participants (N = 330) are younger (mean age: 70.3 versus 71.2, p = 0.014), newer to ACT (median ACT visits since baseline: 3 versus 4, p