Is early age-related macular degeneration associated with cerebral MRI changes? The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relation of early age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes.


METHODS
Population-based, cross-sectional study.


METHODS
A sample of 1,684 persons ages 51 to 72 years with no history of stroke had cerebral MRI and retinal photography. MRI scans were graded for severity of white matter lesions (WML), sulcal widening (SW), and ventricular enlargement (VE). AMD was graded from retinal photographs.


RESULTS
After adjustment for age, gender, race, or center, early AMD (5.0% of participants) was not significantly associated with WML (odds ratio [OR] 1.0, 95% confidence intervals [CI], 0.6 to 1.6), SW (OR 0.6, 95% CI, 0.4 to 1.2), or VE (OR 1.0, 95% CI, 0.6 to 1.8).


CONCLUSIONS
These data showed no statistically significant association of early AMD with cerebral MRI changes, but the study was limited by a small number of cases with wide CIs. Further studies may clarify these associations.
Grosso
Andrea
A
Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, 32 Gisborne Street, Victoria 3002, Australia.
Mosley
Thomas H
TH
Klein
Ronald
R
Couper
David J
DJ
Tikellis
Gabriella
G
Wong
Tien Y
TY
D000368:Aged; D001284:Atrophy; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010781:Photography; D015995:Prevalence; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology*; D012307:Risk Factors