Macular Pigment, Visual Function, and Macular Disease among Subjects with Alzheimer%26apos;s Disease: An Exploratory Study

作者：Nolan John M^*; Loskutova Ekaterina; Howard Alan N; Moran Rachel; Mulcahy Riona; Stack Jim; Bolger Maggie; Dennison Jessica; Akuffo Kwadwo Owusu; Owens Niamh; Thurnham David I; Beatty Stephen

来源：Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 2014, 42(4): 1191-1202.

DOI：10.3233/JAD-140507

• Age-related macular degeneration
• Alzheimer%26apos
• s disease
• cognitive function
• contrast sensitivity
• lutein
• meso-zeaxanthin
• visual function
• zeaxanthin

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%26apos;s constituent carotenoids in retina and brain tissue correlate, and there is a biologically-plausible rationale, supported by emerging evidence, that MP%26apos;s constituent carotenoids are also important for cognitive function. %26lt;br%26gt;Objective: To investigate if patients with Alzheimer%26apos;s disease (AD) are comparable to controls in terms of MP and visual function. %26lt;br%26gt;Methods: 36 patients with moderate AD and 33 controls with the same age range participated. MP was measured using dual-wavelength autofluorescence (Heidelberg Spectralis (R)); 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. %26lt;br%26gt;Results: In the AD group, central MP (i.e., at 0.23 degrees) and MP volume were significantly lower than the control group (p %26lt; 0.001 for both), as were measures of BCVA, CS, and serum L and Z concentrations (p %26lt; 0.05, for all). %26lt;br%26gt;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.

• 出版日期2014