Early age-related macular degeneration, cognitive function, and dementia: the Cardiovascular Health Study.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the association of cognitive function and dementia with early age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in older individuals.


METHODS
This population-based study included 2,088 persons aged 69 to 97 years who participated in the Cardiovascular Health Study. The AMD was assessed from retinal photographs based on a modified Wisconsin AMD grading system. Cognitive function was assessed using the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) and the Modified Mini-Mental State Examination. Participants were also evaluated for dementia using detailed neuropsychological testing.


RESULTS
After controlling for age, sex, race, and study center, persons with low DSST scores (lowest quartile of scores, < or =30) were more likely to have early AMD (odds ratio, 1.38; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-1.85) than were persons with higher DSST scores. In analyses further controlling for education, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol level, diabetes mellitus, smoking status, and apolipoprotein E genotype, this association was stronger (odds ratio, 2.00; 95% confidence interval, 1.29-3.10). There was no association of low Modified Mini-Mental State Examination scores, dementia, or Alzheimer disease with early AMD.


CONCLUSIONS
In this older population, cognitive impairment may share common age-related pathogenesis and risk factors with early AMD.
Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Michelle L
ML
Baker
Jie Jin
JJ
Wang
Sophie
S
Rogers
Ronald
R
Klein
Lewis H
LH
Kuller
Emily K
EK
Larsen
Tien Yin
TY
Wong
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology