Retinal and Nailfold Microvascular Blood Flow as Potential Biomarkers for Aging and Function

Document Type

Abstract

Publication Date

2025

Publication Title

Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science

Volume

66

Issue

8

Pages

4924

Conference Name

2025 ARVO Annual Meeting, 4-8 May 2025, Salt Lake City, Utah

Abstract

Purpose : We investigated the relationship between age, cognitive and functional capacity, and microvascular blood flow in the retina and nailfold, hypothesizing that these blood flow measures correlate with aging and may serve as novel biomarkers for age-related neurodegenerative processes.

Methods : A cross-sectional study was conducted on 21 healthy subjects over 50 years of age without significant ocular disease, liver disease, diabetes, or hypertension. We excluded subjects with a Mini-Mental Exam score below 24. We performed Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT) of the retinal nerve fiber layer and macula, OCT Angiography, and laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) of the optic nerve head and macula on each subject . Cognitive function and balance were assessed using the Trail Making Test B (TMTB), closed Romberg, and Timed Up and Go (TUG) tests. Nailfold capillary blood flow velocity was measured using Nailfold Video Capillaroscopy. Stratified analysis compared subjects under and over 65. Additionally, 37 subjects from a separate healthy control cohort (without diabetes or significant ocular disease) underwent LSCI before and after induced hyperoxia. Pearson correlation tests were used to assess relationships between age, cognitive and functional testing, retinal blood flow, peripheral blood flow, and retinal vasoreactivity.

Results : The average age of all subjects was 62±7 years. 38% of subjects were over 65 and 14% were male. The average retinal blood flow velocity and nailfold blood flow was 8.9±1.7 arbitrary units and 696,373.9 µm³/second respectively . Average time for TMTB, TUG, and closed Romberg were, 74.7±28.5, 7.6±1.8, and 24.4±23.3 seconds respectively. Age was strongly correlated with TMTB time (r=0.50, β=1.95, p=0.02). For subjects older than 65, TMTB had negative correlation with the resistivity index of retinal blood flow (r=-0.77, p< 0.05). TUG had negative correlation with RBFV (r=-0.37, p=0.02). Preliminary analysis showed no other significant correlation between age, TMTB, closed Romberg, and RBFV or nailfold blood flow.

Conclusions : Overall, cognitive function declined with age and there were some preliminary associations between functional testing and microvascular measures. Further analysis and increased recruitment are needed to assess the correlation of microvascular imaging with age-related cognitive decline.

Original Publication Citation

Wu, J.-Y., Oechsli, S., Porwal, Y., Kilby, C., Elbash, K., Gill, A., Mansoor, S., Kapoor, R., Forbes, H. E., Asanad, S., Rege, A., Taubenslag, K., & Saeedi, O. (2025). Retinal and nailfold microvascular blood flow as potential biomarkers for aging and function. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 66(8), 4924. https://iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2804786

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