AB008. The impact of affect on environmental scene perception

Background:The environment that individuals are surrounded by have been linked to have an effect on affect,like anxiety,and well-being.On a whole,rural and natural environment scenes have been showed through previous research to increase positive affect and well-being.Until now,the methods of assessing affect in relation to environmental scene perception have been studied in a healthy sample,and mostly via self-report questionnaires and heart rate.Here,we present a novel quantitative research study that uses frontal electroencephalography(EEG)asymmetry to investigate the impact of viewing images of environmental scenes on affect in a sample of self-reported sub-clinically anxious adults.Frontal EEG asymmetry has previously been used in research related to motivation and assessing emotional affect,with most researchers showing greater left-frontal hemisphere activity compared to the right being associated with positive affect and approach behaviours.Consequently,frontal asymmetry EEG can be used to explore the impact of scene perception on affect.Methods:Forty-six participants(18-52 years)took part in the study.To determine the psychophysiological predictors of affect,specifically anxiety,we monitored brain activity using EEG,while participants viewed a series of natural and man-made images on a computer screen.Natural images consisted of beaches,forests,meadows,mountains,waterfalls.Man-made images consisted of cityscapes,construction sites,highways,skyscrapers and street views.EEG was Fourier transformed,and the alpha-band frequencies(8-12 Hz)isolated and averaged across each image type.Results:Preliminary analysis of frontal-asymmetry shows that individuals with sub-clinical levels of anxiety experience significantly more negative affect(i.e.,increased right asymmetry in alpha bands,(M=−3.15,SD=0.63)when viewing man-made images compared to control participants(M=−1.02,SD=0.67).These preliminary results contrast to when viewing natural images,whereby both controls and the anxious individuals experience high levels of positive affect(i.e.,increased left asymmetry in alpha bands:(Manxiety=3.31,SDanxiety=2.26;Mcontrol=3.33,SDcontrol=1.12).Lastly,frontal-asymmetry indices were significantly different(t=17.48,P<0.001,d=2.58,BF10=3.81e+18)when viewing natural and man-made images.This result was consistent across both groups.Conclusions:This research presents a novel approach to investigating the neuro-cognitive correlates of affect and scene perception.Additionally,these initial observations would indicate that man-made scenes induce negative affect,and that this effect is amplified in individuals with sub-clinical levels of anxiety.Future work should expand this research to investigate environmental scene perception in individuals with clinical levels of anxiety,and use other physiological measures,such as heart-rate variability and eye-tracking to objectively assess affect.

AB035.The link between cognitive impairment and drusen quantity in age-related macular degeneration

Background:Age-related macular degeneration(AMD)is a common cause of severe vision impairment in populations over 50 years old.It is characterized by drusen;the accumulation of waste between the retinal pigment epithelium and Bruch’s membrane.Drusen have been identified in the eyes of Alzheimer’s patients,post-mortem.Further,beta-amyloid,best known as a pathological component of the senile plaques in Alzheimer’s disease,has been identified as a component of drusen in AMD.Researchers have also demonstrated an increased prevalence of cognitive impairment in individuals with AMD.The current study uses optical coherence tomography(OCT)and a cognitive assessment to investigate the potential use of drusen as a biomarker of cognitive impairment.The overall number of drusen detectable on the OCT scans of individuals who exhibit mild cognitive impairment is compared to the number of drusen detectable on the OCT scans of individuals who do not exhibit mild cognitive impairment.Methods:To date,10 participants(nine women)aged 74 to 95 years with a diagnosis of AMD and/or drusen have been recruited.The Optos®OCT/SLO imaging system was used to take cross-sectional images of the retina.The images were then manually graded by two trained graders to determine the number of drusen present along the retina.The Montreal Cognitive Assessment(MoCA)was used to assess overall cognitive status.Results:Of the 10 participants,three passed the full MoCA(i.e.scored at or above 26 out of 30 possible points)and seven did not pass,scoring positive for mild cognitive impairment(Mpass=27.33,SDpass=0.58;Mfail=21.86,SDfail=2.55).Preliminary analyses have demonstrated that individuals who pass the MoCA seem to have fewer drusen present overall(Mdn=35)compared to those who score positive for cognitive impairment(Mdn=63).However,a Mann-Whitney U test revealed that these findings are not significant;U=5,P=0.27.Conclusions:The results agree with previous literature demonstrating an increased prevalence of mild cognitive impairment in individuals with AMD.The larger average number of drusen found in individuals who score positive for cognitive impairment points to a difference in retinal abnormalities based on cognitive status.Beyond sample size,the insignificance of the difference between groups at this stage can be explained by the number of individuals who failed the MoCA who have wet AMD(n=5).The wet AMD makes grading of drusen on OCT scans more difficult due to scarring and warping of the retina.This could result in an under-representation of the number of drusen.Data collection is still underway,and an accurate depiction is expected with a larger sample size.Researchers have also suggested the importance of peripherally located drusen and its link to cognitive impairment,therefore,future analysis will consider this as well.

AB034. Knowledge and understanding of eye disease among older adults with vision impairment

Background:By 2026,projections indicate that 1/5 Canadians will be over the age of 65.This shift in demographics will be accompanied by an increase in age-related eye disease.Survey studies have reported vision loss as a major medical concern among older adults,but there is little information on older adults’awareness and knowledge of age-related eye diseases.A lack of knowledge can lead to missed or delayed treatment and/or lifestyle modification.This study aims to assess the knowledge and understanding older adults have of their own eye disease and its prognosis.Methods:Participants over the age of 50 with a visual impairment were recruited from the MAB-Mackay Rehabilitation Centre,the Low Vision Self-Help Association(LVSHA)of the West Island and through word of mouth.Visual acuity and contrast sensitivity were measured using the ETDRS charts and Mars Charts,respectively.Optical coherence tomography(OCT)/scanning laser ophthalmoscopy was used to take cross-sectional images of participant retinas.Participants were asked to name their visual diagnoses and describe them in their own words.Participant diagnoses were compared to diagnoses determined by an optometrist or ophthalmologist.Results:To date,this study has recruited 26 participants(7M,19F)over the age of 50 years(range,51-95 years).Many participants(73%)were able to name their visual diagnoses,articulate their symptoms,and discuss their treatment and prognosis.The majority of these individuals(67%)were clients of the MAB-Mackay or participants in the LVSHA.Of the 27%(4M,4F)who were unclear or had misunderstood their diagnoses,half were participants in a low vision support group,but they had multiple visual diagnoses and it was the congenital or trauma-related visual impairments acquired before joining the MAB-Mackay or LVSHA that remained unclear.The other 4 individuals who misunderstood their diagnoses were not involved with any low vision or rehabilitation organizations.Conclusions:Visual impairment is sometimes dismissed as part of aging.A lack of awareness and knowledge can lead to missed or delayed treatment and/or lifestyle modifications.The preliminary results of this study demonstrate the important role organizations like the MAB-Mackay and LVSHA play in education and adaptation to low vision for older adults.Individuals with a better understanding of their own diagnoses are more likely to follow through with doctor-recommendations and have successful treatment or slowed progression.