视网膜神经纤维层厚度与认知障碍的相关性

Correlation between Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness and Cognitive Impairment

视网膜神经纤维层是由视网膜的神经节细胞轴突组成的,视网膜和中枢神经系统在胚胎发育过程中是同源的,所以视网膜是可以直接观察活体个体的中枢神经系统的唯一部分,因此,视网膜神经纤维层的厚度可以作为评估中枢神经系统持续变化的窗口。目前越来越多的人患有认知障碍,其中较为常见的是阿尔茨海默病,而轻度认知障碍是阿尔茨海默病的早期阶段,能够早期识别轻度认知障碍,对于早期治疗认知功能缺损并预防认知障碍加重有着不可或缺的作用,目前有研究表明视网膜神经纤维层厚度的减少与认知障碍具有相关性。通过光学相干断层扫描技术测量视网膜神经纤维层的厚度有望成为发现认知障碍的早期标记物。

Retinal nerve fiber layer is composed of retinal ganglion cells axons. Retina and central nervous system are homologous in the process of embryonic development, so the retina is the only part of the central nervous system which can directly observe the living individuals. Therefore, retinal nerve fiber layer thickness can be used as a window which can assess the continuous change of the central nervous system. At present, more and more people have cognitive impairment, in which the more common is Alzheimer’s disease. Then, mild cognitive impairment is an early stage of Alzheimer’s disease. Early identification of mild cognitive impairment played an important pole in the treatment of cognitive impairments and prevention of cognitive impairment. Now, a study has shown that the reduction of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness is associated with cognitive impairment. Measured by optical coherence tomography technology, retinal nerve fiber layer thickness is expected to become the early markers of cognitive impairment.