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Table 1 Demographic data and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measurements in Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment and controls by OCT

From: The role of optical coherence tomography in Alzheimer’s disease

Study

OCT type

Diagnosis, number of subjects (eyes)

Mean age ± SD (years)

Mean MMSE ± SD

Mean peripapillary RNFL SD (µm)

Notes

Parisi et al. [19]

TD

AD, 17 (17)

70.4 ± 6.1

16.4 ± 2.4

59.5 ± 16.8**

The mean peripapillary RNFL thicknes correlated with PERG

  

Controls, 14 (14)

Age-matched

 

99.9 ± 8.95

 

Iseri et al. [26]

TD

AD, 14 (28)

70.1 ± 9.7

18.5 ± 6.3

87.5 ± 23.8***

The peripapillary and macular RNFL thickness of AD patients were thinner than in control subjects. Total macular volume and MMSE scores were significantly correlated

  

Controls, 14 (14)

65.1 ± 9.8

 

113.2 ± 6.7

 

Berisha et al. [46]

TD

AD, 9 (9)

74.3 ± 3.3

23.8 ± 5.1

85.5 ± 7.4

Narrow veins and decreased retinal blood flow in these veins

  

Controls, 8 (8)

74.3 ± 5.8

 

93.8 ± 10.4

 

Paquet et al. [34]

TD

AD, 26 (52)

78.5 ± 4.9

 

83.4 ± 7.2**

Early involvement of the RNFL in patients with MCI

  

 Mild AD, 14 (28)

 

22.6

  
  

 Severe AD, 12 (24)

 

16.6

  
  

MCI, 23 (46)

78.7 ± 5.1

28.8

89.3 ± 2.7**

 
  

Controls, 15 (30)

75.5 ± 5.1

 

102.2 ± 1.8

 

Lu et al. [30]

TD

AD, 22 (44)

73.0 ± 8.0

 

90.0 ± 18.0*

The RNFL thickness reductions of predominantly in the superior and inferior quadrants

  

Controls, 22 (44)

68.0 ± 9.0

 

98.0 ± 12.0

 

Kesler et al. [27]

TD

AD, 30 (52)

73.7 ± 9.9

23.6 ± 4.3

84.7 ± 10.6*

No correlation between RNFL thickness measurements and MMSE in AD patients

  

MCI, 24 (40)

71.0 ± 10.0

28.1 ± 2.1

85.8 10.0*

 
  

Controls, 24 (38)

70.9 ± 9.2

 

94.3 ± 11.3

 

Moschos et al. [33]

TD

AD, 30 (60)

71.8 ± 8.6

  

There is a functional abnormality of the outer retina in central macular area in mild stages of AD

  

Controls, 30 (60)

Age-matched

   

Moreno-Ramos et al. [32]

SD

AD, 10 (20)

73.0 ± 6.5

16.4

94.5 ± 2.2*

The RNFL thickness correlated significantly with both the MMSE and the Mattis Dementia Rating Scale scores in AD patients

  

Controls, 10 (20)

70.0 ± 2.0

 

108.0 ± 2.2

 

Marziani et al. [31]

SD

AD, 21 (21)

79.3 ± 5.7

19.9 ± 3.1

 

Macular RNFL and RNFL + GCL thickness measurements are reduced in AD patients compared with healthy subjects

  

Controls, 21 (21)

77.0 ± 4.2

   

Kirbas et al. [28]

SD

AD, 40 (80)

69.3 ± 4.9

21.4

65.0 ± 6.2*

No correlation between OCT parameters and MMSE

  

Controls, 40 (80)

68.9 ± 5.1

 

75.0 ± 3.8

 

Larrosa et al. [47]

SD

AD, 151 (151)

75.3

18.3

97.5 ± 14.1

Used two different OCT (cirrus and spectralis)

  

Controls, 61 (61)

74.9

 

100.6 ± 13

 

Ascaso et al. [35]

TD

AD, 18 (36)

72.1 ± 8.7 (AD + aMCI)

19.3 (AD + aMCI)

64.7 ± 15.2

The increased thickness and macular volume in aMCI

  

aMCI, 21 (42)

72.1 ± 8.7 (AD + aMCI)

19.3 (AD + aMCI)

86.7 ± 7.18***

 
  

Controls, 41 (82)

72.9

 

103.1 ± 8.04

 

Polo et al. [45]

SD

AD, 75 (75)

74.1

16.0

97.4 ± 11.2 (cirrus); 98.1 ± 10.7 (spectralis)

SD-OCT protocols were able to detect RNFL and macular atrophy in AD patients

  

Controls, 75 (75)

73.9

 

99.2 ± 9.9 (cirrus); 101.6 ± 9.5 (spectralis)

 

Kromer et al. [29]

SD

AD, 22 (42)

75.9  ±  6.1 

22.6  ±  5.5

104.3 ± 17.5

AD patients with mild to moderate stages of showed a significant reduction of RNFL thickness in the nasal superior sector

  

Controls, 22 (42)

64.0 ± 8.2

 

101.8 ± 10.7

 

Bambo et al. [48]

SD

AD, 56 (56)

74.0 ± 8.1

16.6

89.4 ± 10.4**

Presence of optic disc pallor correlate with axonal loss and perfusion alterations in AD

  

Controls, 56 (56)

76.4 ± 8.4

 

100.9 ± 11.7

 

Bayhan et al. [43]

SD

AD, 31 (31)

75.8  ±  6.5

17.4  ±  4.9

 

A significant correlation with the macular GCC parameters and MMSE scores in AD patients

  

Controls, 30 (30)

74.9 ± 7.6

   

Liu et al. [41]

TD

AD, 67 (134)

   

The RNFL thickness in the superior quadrant and total mean values are gradually and significantly decreased from MCI to severe AD

  

 Mild AD, 24

71.3 ± 4.9

 

91.6 ± 10.1*

 
  

 Moderate AD, 24

70.8 ± 6

 

91.7 ± 12.4*

 
  

 Severe AD, 19

72.1 ± 4.6

 

87.1 ± 17.1***

 
  

MCI, 26 (52)

70.2 ± 6.5

 

95.4 ± 17.1

 
  

Controls, 39 (78)

69.7 ± 7.8

 

100.1 ± 15

 

Gao et al. [25]

SD

AD, 25 (50)

74.7 ± 1.3

19.2 ± 0.6

86 ± 1.9**

Reduced macular volume in AD and MCI patients, no correlation between MMSE and OCT parameters

  

aMCI, 25 (50)

73.4 ± 1.5

25.8 ± 0.35

92.4 ± 1.9*

 
  

Controls, 21 (42)

72.1 ± 1

 

98.6 ± 1.7

 

Oktem et al. [49]

SD

AD, 35 (70)

75.4 ± 6.9

18.0

80.6 ± 9.6***

RNFL thickness measurements can be useful for early diagnosis and evaluation of disease progression

  

MCI, 35 (70)

74.1 ± 6.3

28.0

82.5 ± 7.3

 
  

Controls, 35 (70)

70.2 ± 8.0

29.0

91.5 ± 7.1

 

Salobrar-Garcia et al. [50]

SD

AD, 23 (23)

79.3 ± 4.6

23.3 ± 3.1

 

Increase in peripapillary thickness in mild-AD patients

  

Controls, 28 (28)

72.3 ± 5.1

   

Cunha et al. [24]

SD

AD, 24 (45)

74.8 ± 6.2

17.0 ± 5.2

93.7 ± 13.4

Neuronal loss, especially for macular parameters, correlated well with cognitive impairment in AD

  

Controls, 24 (48)

72.3 ± 7.3

 

103 ± 9.2

 

Garcia-Martin et al. [51]

SD

AD, 150 (150)

75.33

18.35 ± 3.33

95.7 ± 15.22

Performed segmentation of all retinal layers. Inner retinal layers reduction may predict greater disease severity

  

Controls, 75 (75)

74.79

 

99.23 ± 16.48

 

Choi et al. [40]

SD

AD, 42 (42)

76.8 ± 8.7

14.5 ± 5.5

 

Performed segmentation of all retinal layers

  

MCI, 26 (26)

74.7 ± 7.8

23.1 ± 4.6

86.6 ± 10.2

 
  

Controls, 66 (66)

73.8 ± 7.5

   
  1. AD Alzheimer’s disease, MCI mild cognitive impairment, aMCI amnestic mild cognitive impairment, RNFL retinal nerve fiber layer, OCT optical coherence tomography, SD standard deviation, TD time-domain, SD (OCT type column) spectral domain, MMSE mini mental state examination, PERG pattern-reversal electroretinogram, GCL ganglion cell layer, GCC ganglion cell complex
  2. P < 0.05; ** P < 0.01; *** P < 0.001 when compared to controls