Macular Pigment, Visual Function, and Macular Disease among Subjects with Alzheimer's Disease: An Exploratory Study.

Nolan, John M. and Loskutova, Ekaterina and Howard, Alan N and Moran, Rachel and Mulcahy, Riona and Stack, Jim and Bolger, Maggie and Dennison, Jessica and Akuffo, Kwadwo Owusu and Owens, Niamh and Thurnham, David I and Beatty, Stephen (2014) Macular Pigment, Visual Function, and Macular Disease among Subjects with Alzheimer's Disease: An Exploratory Study. Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD. ISSN 1875-8908 (In Press)

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Abstract

Background: The macula (central retina) contains a yellow pigment, comprising the dietary carotenoids lutein (L), zeaxanthin (Z), and meso-zeaxanthin, known as macular pigment (MP). The concentrations of MP's constituent carotenoids in retina and brain tissue correlate, and there is a biologically-plausible rationale, supported by emerging evidence, that MP's constituent carotenoids are also important for cognitive function. Objective: To investigate if patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) are comparable to controls in terms of MP and visual function. Methods: 36 patients with moderate AD and 33 controls with the same age range participated. MP was measured using dual-wavelength autofluorescence (Heidelberg Spectralis®); cognitive function was assessed using a battery of cognition tests (including Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery). Visual function was recorded by measuring best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and contrast sensitivity (CS). Serum L and Z concentrations (by HPLC) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD, by retinal examination) status were also assessed. Results: In the AD group, central MP (i.e., at 0.23°) and MP volume were significantly lower than the control group (p < 0.001 for both), as were measures of BCVA, CS, and serum L and Z concentrations (p < 0.05, for all). Conclusion: AD patients were observed to exhibit significantly less MP, lower serum concentrations of L and Z, poorer vision, and a higher occurrence of AMD when compared to control subjects. A clinical trial in AD patients designed to investigate the impact of macular carotenoid supplementation with respect to MP, visual function, and cognitive function is merited.

Item Type: Article
Departments or Groups: Macular Pigment Research Group
Divisions: School of Science > Department of Chemical and Life Sciences
Depositing User: Kwadwo Akuffo
Date Deposited: 05 Aug 2014 12:40
Last Modified: 27 May 2022 13:28
URI: https://repository.wit.ie/id/eprint/2848

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