Ayyıldız N, Mueller K, Hardikar S, Beyer F, Enzenbach C, Baber R, Wirkner K, Zachariae S, Girbardt J, Hassett J D, Anwander A, Elze T, Wang M, Witte A V, Rauscher F G, Villringer A
Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany.
Department of Neurology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic.
bioRxiv. 2025 May 16:2025.05.13.653685. doi: 10.1101/2025.05.13.653685.
The retina is a relatively accessible part of the central nervous system compared to the brain. Using high resolution optical imaging we investigated the relationship between retinal thickness, obtained with optical coherence tomography, and structural features of the brain obtained with magnetic resonance imaging. In a population-based sample of over 500 subjects, we hypothesized: (i) that there are structural associations between circumpapillary retinal nerve fibre layer thickness and brain grey matter density and white matter microstructural properties in visual information processing areas, and specifically contralateral associations for nasal retinal fibers, and (ii) that retinal findings reflect broader changes in brain grey and white matter related to cardiovascular risk factors. In support of the first hypothesis, we showed associations of circumpapillary retinal nerve fibre layer thickness with visual cortex grey matter density and with optic radiation fractional anisotropy. These correlations were stronger for the right eye, possibly reflecting right ocular dominancy. Regarding the second hypothesis, while we confirmed the broad impact of cardiovascular risk factors such as body mass index, diabetes, and hypertension on brain structure, we didn't find (adequate) significant partial correlations between circumpapillary retinal nerve fibre layer thickness and cardiovascular risk factors to support the hypothesis. As such, we couldn't confirm that circumpapillary retinal nerve fibre layer thickness is associated with the impact of cardiovascular risk factors on the brain structure. However, when the effects of cardiovascular risk factors were accounted for statistically, circumpapillary retinal nerve fibre layer thickness (particularly on the right side) was associated with fractional anisotropy of limbic system tracts, i.e., the fornix and stria terminalis including hippocampus and amygdala. To further explore the structural associations between eye and brain, in terms of a possible common underlying pathology related to cardiovascular risk factors and progressive neurodegenerative diseases on the central nervous system, longitudinal and interventional studies are necessary.
与大脑相比，视网膜是中枢神经系统中相对易于触及的部分。我们使用高分辨率光学成像技术，研究了通过光学相干断层扫描获得的视网膜厚度与通过磁共振成像获得的大脑结构特征之间的关系。在一个基于人群的500多名受试者的样本中，我们提出了以下假设：（i）视乳头周围视网膜神经纤维层厚度与视觉信息处理区域的脑灰质密度和白质微观结构特性之间存在结构关联，特别是鼻侧视网膜纤维的对侧关联；（ii）视网膜检查结果反映了与心血管危险因素相关的脑灰质和白质的更广泛变化。为支持第一个假设，我们展示了视乳头周围视网膜神经纤维层厚度与视觉皮层灰质密度以及视辐射分数各向异性之间的关联。这些相关性在右眼更强，可能反映了右眼优势。关于第二个假设，虽然我们证实了体重指数、糖尿病和高血压等心血管危险因素对脑结构有广泛影响，但我们没有发现视乳头周围视网膜神经纤维层厚度与心血管危险因素之间（充分的）显著偏相关来支持该假设。因此，我们无法证实视乳头周围视网膜神经纤维层厚度与心血管危险因素对脑结构的影响有关。然而，当对心血管危险因素的影响进行统计学校正后，视乳头周围视网膜神经纤维层厚度（特别是右侧）与边缘系统束的分数各向异性相关，即穹窿和终纹，包括海马体和杏仁核。为了进一步探索眼睛和大脑之间的结构关联，就与心血管危险因素和中枢神经系统进行性神经退行性疾病相关的潜在共同病理而言，纵向和干预性研究是必要的。
