Diagnosing Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Using Blood Plasma and Eye Imaging
Author Information
Author(s): Jali Vidishaa, Zhang Qinglin, Chong Joyce Ruifen, Wong Damon, Tan Bingyao, Garhöfer Gerhard, Hilal Saima, Lai Mitchell K P, Schmetterer Leopold, Chen Christopher Li-Hsian, Chua Jacqueline
Primary Institution: National University of Singapore
Hypothesis
This study evaluates the diagnostic performance of plasma biomarkers and retinal biomarkers in differentiating cognitive impairment and dementia.
Conclusion
The study found that plasma neurofilament light chain is a better biomarker than phosphorylated tau181 for identifying moderate cognitive decline.
Supporting Evidence
- Plasma neurofilament light chain levels increased from normal cognition to dementia.
- Retinal nerve fibre layer thickness decreased progressively from normal cognition to dementia.
- Plasma biomarkers demonstrated superior diagnostic performance compared to retinal parameters.
Takeaway
Doctors can use blood tests and eye scans to tell if someone has memory problems or dementia, which helps them start treatment sooner.
Methodology
A cross-sectional study involving 509 participants aged 50 and older, categorized based on cognitive impairment levels, using clinical assessments, neuropsychological testing, and MRI scans.
Potential Biases
Exclusion of patients with certain eye conditions could introduce selection bias.
Limitations
The cross-sectional design limits causality, and there may be selection bias due to missing data.
Participant Demographics
Participants were aged 50 and older, with varying levels of cognitive impairment.
Statistical Information
P-Value
P < 0.001 for several comparisons.
Confidence Interval
95% CI for AUC values reported.
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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