Guanfacine for the Treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children and Adolescents with Down Syndrome: A Retrospective Chart Review.

Study Design: Retrospective case series. Objectives: The objective of this study was to provide naturalistic data on the use of guanfacine for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in a clinically referred sample of youth with Down syndrome (DS). Methods: The medical records of children and adolescents with DS who received guanfacine for the treatment of ADHD from a multidisciplinary neurodevelopmental disorder clinic between September 1, 2011, and September 10, 2021, were reviewed. Demographic and clinical characteristics, guanfacine dose and treatment duration, and adverse effects were recorded. Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI) scores for ADHD symptom severity (S) and improvement (I) were retrospectively assigned by a child and adolescent psychiatrist based on review of the clinic notes. Response to guanfacine was defined as completion of at least 12 weeks of treatment and a Clinical Global Impression Improvement subscale rating ≤2 (1 = "very much improved" or 2 = "much improved"). Results: Twenty-one patients were eligible for inclusion, of whom 17 (81%) completed at least 12 weeks of guanfacine. Ten of the 21 patients (48%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 28%-68%) responded to treatment. The median time on guanfacine treatment covered by the clinic notes was 50.4 weeks, with a range of 0.3 weeks to 7.5 years. Thirteen patients (62%) remained on guanfacine at the time of their most recent clinic note. Nine patients had adverse events documented in their clinic notes (43%; 95% CI: 24%-63%), most commonly sleepiness (n = 7) and constipation (n = 2). Conclusion: About half of patients with DS responded to guanfacine for the treatment of ADHD and many tolerated long-term use. Study limitations primarily relate to the retrospective nature of the study and small sample size.

Integrative Oncology Approaches to Reduce Recurrence of Disease and Improve Survival.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: After a cancer diagnosis, patients ask what they can do in addition to the recommended treatments to increase their survival. Many turn to integrative medicine modalities and lifestyle changes to improve their chances of survival. Numerous studies have demonstrated that lifestyle changes can significantly improve survival rates for cancer patients. Less support exists for the use of natural products or supplements to improve cancer survival. In this manuscript, we review key findings and evidence in the areas of healthy eating habits, physical activity, stress management and social support, and sleep quality, as well as natural products and supplements as they relate to the cancer recurrence and survival. RECENT FINDINGS: While more research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms underlying the associations between lifestyle changes and cancer survival, findings suggest that lifestyle modifications in the areas of diet, physical activity, stress management and social support, and sleep quality improve clinical cancer outcomes. This is especially true for programs that modify more than one lifestyle habit. To date, outside of supplementing with vitamin D to maintain adequate levels, conflicting conclusion within the research remain regarding the efficacy of using natural products or supplement to improve cancer recurrence of disease or cancer survival. A call for further research is warranted. Lifestyle screening and counseling should be incorporated into cancer treatment plans to help improve patient outcomes. While the scientific community strives for the pursuit of high-quality research on natural products to enhance cancer survival, transparency, dialogue, and psychological safety between patients and clinicians must continue to be emphasized. Proactive inquiry by clinicians regarding patients' supplement use will allow for an informed discussion of the benefits and risks of natural products and supplements, as well as a re-emphasis of the evidence supporting diet and other lifestyle habits to increase survival.

Implementation of a Multicomponent Otago-Based Virtual Fall Reduction, Education, and Exercise Program (MOVing FREEly) in Older Veterans.

PURPOSE: The COVID-19 pandemic limited access to community fall prevention programs, thus establishing the need for virtual interventions. Herein, we describe the feasibility, effectiveness, and acceptability of a virtual, multicomponent fall prevention program (MOVing FREEly). METHODS: A team of clinical falls prevention experts developed a six-week multicomponent fall prevention exercise and education class for older community-dwelling adults at risk of falling. Feasibility was measured through class attendance; effectiveness was measured through changes in performance measures, self-report of falling risk, and concern about falling; acceptability was assessed through questionnaires completed immediately upon program completion and at a three-month follow up. RESULTS: A total of 32 patients participated in the MOVing FREEly program. Attendance for education and exercise classes on average was greater than 80% with little attrition. Patient reported reduced concern of falling, improvement in the falls efficacy scale-international (FES-I) short form, and had statistically significant improvement in 30 s sit-to-stand and single-leg balance tests. The program was well received by participants, saving them significant time and costs of travel. CONCLUSIONS: A virtual, multicomponent fall prevention program is feasible and acceptable and effective as reducing falling risk. Future studies can explore the ability of this program to reduce falling incident and injury.

Fact Check: Assessing the Response of ChatGPT to Alzheimer's Disease Statements with Varying Degrees of Misinformation.

Background: There are many myths regarding Alzheimer's disease (AD) that have been circulated on the Internet, each exhibiting varying degrees of accuracy, inaccuracy, and misinformation. Large language models such as ChatGPT, may be a useful tool to help assess these myths for veracity and inaccuracy. However, they can induce misinformation as well. The objective of this study is to assess ChatGPT's ability to identify and address AD myths with reliable information. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of clinicians' evaluation of ChatGPT (GPT 4.0)'s responses to 20 selected AD myths. We prompted ChatGPT to express its opinion on each myth and then requested it to rephrase its explanation using a simplified language that could be more readily understood by individuals with a middle school education. We implemented a survey using Redcap to determine the degree to which clinicians agreed with the accuracy of each ChatGPT's explanation and the degree to which the simplified rewriting was readable and retained the message of the original. We also collected their explanation on any disagreement with ChatGPT's responses. We used five Likert-type scale with a score ranging from -2 to 2 to quantify clinicians' agreement in each aspect of the evaluation. Results: The clinicians (n=11) were generally satisfied with ChatGPT's explanations, with a mean (SD) score of 1.0(±0.3) across the 20 myths. While ChatGPT correctly identified that all the 20 myths were inaccurate, some clinicians disagreed with its explanations on 7 of the myths.Overall, 9 of the 11 professionals either agreed or strongly agreed that ChatGPT has the potential to provide meaningful explanations of certain myths. Conclusions: The majority of surveyed healthcare professionals acknowledged the potential value of ChatGPT in mitigating AD misinformation. However, the need for more refined and detailed explanations of the disease's mechanisms and treatments was highlighted.

20-αHydroxycholesterol, an oxysterol in human breast milk, reverses mouse neonatal white matter injury through Gli-dependent oligodendrogenesis.

White matter injuries (WMIs) are the leading cause of neurologic impairment in infants born premature. There are no treatment options available. The most common forms of WMIs in infants occur prior to the onset of normal myelination, making its pathophysiology distinctive, thus requiring a tailored approach to treatment. Neonates present a unique opportunity to repair WMIs due to a transient abundance of neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) present in the germinal matrix with oligodendrogenic potential. We identified an endogenous oxysterol, 20-αHydroxycholesterol (20HC), in human maternal breast milk that induces oligodendrogenesis through a sonic hedgehog (shh), Gli-dependent mechanism. Following WMI in neonatal mice, injection of 20HC induced subventricular zone-derived oligodendrogenesis and improved myelination in the periventricular white matter, resulting in improved motor outcomes. Targeting the oligodendrogenic potential of postnatal NSPCs in neonates with WMIs may be further developed into a novel approach to mitigate this devastating complication of preterm birth.

Self-administered Meditation Application Intervention for Cancer Patients With Psychosocial Distress: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: We explored the use of a novel smart phone-based application (APP) for delivery and monitoring of meditation to treat mood symptoms experienced by cancer patients. METHODS: We assessed the feasibility of using a meditation delivery and tracking APP over 2-weeks and its impact on cancer patients' self-reported anxiety and depression. Outpatients reporting depression and/or anxiety were recruited and randomized to the APP or waitlist control group. Assessments included an expectancy scale, exit survey, mood rating before and after each meditation, and the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS-FS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) at baseline and after 2-weeks. The primary aim was to assess feasibility; secondary aims included satisfaction with the APP, association between meditation frequency and length with self-reported symptoms, and change in symptom measures (symptoms, anxiety, depression, and sleep). RESULTS: Our study included 35 participants (17 meditation group; 18 controls) who were primarily female (94%) with breast cancer (60%). The 61% enrollment rate and 71% adherence rate met pre-specified feasibility criteria. Most meditation group participants described the APP as "Useful" to "Very Useful" and would "Probably" or "Definitely" recommend its use. Mixed model analysis revealed a statistically significant association between meditation length (5, 10, or 15 minutes) and change in anxiety, with 15-minute sessions associated with greater reductions in anxiety. In the exit survey, more meditation group vs. control group participants reported improved focus, mood, and sleep. Study groups differed significantly by ESAS fatigue score change; the meditation group decreased a median of 1.5 pts (IQR 2.5) and the control group increased a median of 0.5 points (IQR 2). The meditation group, but not the control group, experienced statistically significant improvement in ESAS fatigue, depression, anxiety, appetite, and physical, psychological, and global distress. Change in PSQI and HADS anxiety and depression scores did not reveal any statistically significant between-group differences. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study demonstrated the feasibility and acceptability of a meditation APP for cancer patients. Meditation APP users reported improvement in several measures of symptom distress. Future studies should explore ways to enhance the APP's usability and clinical benefit.

Training Tomorrow's Physicians in Value Conscious Medicine.

PROBLEM: Future physicians will practice medicine in an increasingly complex health care system. To become effective leaders of value-based teams and to practice cost-conscious care, medical students need training in and exposure to value conscious medicine (VCM). APPROACH: A student-led initiative to enhance education in VCM led to the development of the 4-week elective course (High Value Care: In Policy and in Practice) for postclerkship third- and fourth-year students, introduced in 2021 at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. The course included structured didactics, self-directed online modules, a book club, and flipped-classroom discussions in addition to clinical rotations focused on VCM in practice. OUTCOMES: Students' self-ratings of their understanding of VCM, preparation to practice value-based care, and comfort incorporating patient and system costs into clinical decisions improved after completing the course. Most indicated they would recommend the course to their peers. Suggestions for improvement included more teach-back sessions with faculty as well as more direction for preceptors to demonstrate specific aspects of VCM. NEXT STEPS: The authors share this example of a dedicated medical school VCM course as a step toward achieving the vision of integrating value into clinical decision making and empowering students to become informed and capable future physicians. Other institutions may consider adapting this course example to prepare their students to practice VCM in an increasingly cost-focused system.

The Potential Role of Neurofilament Light in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Diagnosis: A Systematic Review.

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is an insult to the CNS often overlooked at the time of presentation due to variable symptomatology and undetectable nature on CT/MRI. Increased exposure to repetitive head injuries results in a high prevalence of mTBI among athletes and military personnel. While most patients fully recover with rest, some are at risk for long-lasting neurocognitive dysfunction, leading to a high morbidity and cost burden on the healthcare system. Currently, there are no unified symptom-based criteria or gold standard objective measurement for mTBI. Neurofilament light (Nf-L) is a highly sensitive biomarker for axonal injury with the potential to serve as an objective serum measurement for mTBI. This systematic review investigates the ability of Nf-L to accurately diagnose acute mTBI in athletes and military personnel. A comprehensive literature search of PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar from 2010 to 2021 using keywords neurofilament light chain, mTBI, concussion, athletes, and military identified 239 articles for eligibility screening. Ten articles met the inclusion criteria for qualitative analysis, with extracted data including Nf-L levels, recovery characteristics, and neuroimaging results. Of the 10 studies meeting inclusion criteria, one was military-related, five were sports-related, and four were mixed-focus. Six studies investigated the association between mTBI and Nf-L levels within 24 hours of injury. Four of these studies involved athletes, with three showing evidence of acute Nf-L elevations. No evidence of acute Nf-L elevations was reported among military personnel or emergency department patients. Nf-L elevations were recorded at various time points greater than 24 hours post-injury in athletes (two studies) and emergency department patients (one study). Positive associations were found between Nf-L levels and loss of consciousness/post-traumatic amnesia (one study), positive neuroimaging findings (three studies), and prolonged recovery times (three studies). We are unable to conclude whether Nf-L has the capacity for acute diagnosis of mTBI or the optimal time for serum measurement. Nf-L does, however, shows promise as a prognostic factor for mTBI complications, neuroimaging findings, and recovery. Additional studies are warranted, as the use of Nf-L in early diagnosis of mTBI in the future would improve clinical management while decreasing complications and healthcare costs.

Creation of a Whole Health Age-Friendly Template and Dashboard Facilitates Implementation of 4Ms into Primary Care.

The Veterans Administration has joined the Age-Friendly Health Systems (AFHS) movement as part of its Whole Health initiative to provide safe, high-quality geriatric care using a set of evidence-based practices known as the "4Ms"-What Matters, Medication, Mentation, and Mobility-to provide care across all care settings. Two healthcare centers utilized an automated review of 4Ms care. For non-templated notes in the TVHS GeriPACT clinic over a 30-day period, all the 4Ms health factors (HFs) were addressed in only 1% of patients, and 16% had three HFs, 37% had two HFs, and 71% had one HF addressed. During the pilot of a new templated note and associated dashboard at the RICVAMC, GeriPACT and Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) addressed all the age-friendly health factors in 41% of patients, while 24% had three health factors, 10% had two health factors, and 13% had one health factor addressed, and 10% were indeterminate by manual review. For both facilities, What Matters Most had the lowest prevalence, representing the most difficult individual health factor to address. The use of a templated note improves the reliable delivery of age-friendly care compared to non-templated notes and facilitates the dashboard display of practice- and provider-specific age-friendly encounter data, which may provide useful QI information to clinicians and health systems.

Frequencies and predictors of health psychology referrals after integrative oncology consultation.

OBJECTIVE: Health psychology (HP) plays a critical role within a multidisciplinary, integrative oncology team. HP in integrative oncology is not well established and criteria for referral have not been examined. This study examined characteristics of referral to HP. METHODS: A chart review of 1827 patients in the Integrative Medicine Center (IMC) between 2019 and 2020 was conducted. Patient assessments included the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale, Measure Yourself Concerns and Well-being, and PROMIS10. Chi-square tests were used to compare categorical variables, Mann-Whitney test for non-normally distributed continuous variables, and t-tests for normally distributed continuous variables comparing those referred and not referred to HP. RESULTS: Patients referred (n = 316) were mostly female (85.4%), White (67.1%), married/partnered (67.7%), obese (42.1%), and with breast cancer (52.2%). When comparing the two groups, patients referred to HP and patients not referred to HP, patients referred had a higher proportion of female and Black patients than expected (p ≤ .01); patients referred were also younger and had higher BMIs (p ≤ .01). Referred patients reported worse fatigue, sleep, depression, anxiety, well-being, spiritual pain, financial distress, memory, overall mental health, physical health, and global health (p ≤ .01). Most common concerns of referrals were diet/nutrition, overall health, and stress/anxiety. Compared to non-referred, HP referrals were more likely to prioritize depression, spirituality, and stress/anxiety (p ≤ .01). CONCLUSIONS: Patient characteristics are well-suited treatment targets for HP, including addressing emotional distress, healthy lifestyle, and quality of life. Our findings can help programs develop strategies to facilitate engagement with psychological counseling.

Multimodal imaging of type 2 acute macular neuroretinopathy in a young woman.

We report a case of type 2 acute macular neuroretinopathy (AMN) that occurred in an otherwise healthy 22-year-old white woman taking oral contraceptives and consuming large quantities of caffeinated coffee. The patient presented with a teardrop-shaped scotoma just inferior to her central vision in her left eye after a recent and significant increase in coffee consumption. A small extrafoveal retinal lesion was present superior to the fovea on pseudocolor fundus photography. Multimodal retinal imaging demonstrated focal disruption of the inner segment-outer segment junction of the photoreceptors with overlying hyperreflectivity at the level of the outer plexiform layer superior to the fovea, consistent with a diagnosis of type 2 AMN. Oral contraceptive use and high caffeine intake may be risk factors for the development of type 2 AMN.

Dementia Caregiver Virtual Support-An Implementation Evaluation of Two Pragmatic Models during COVID-19.

Caregivers of people with Alzheimer's and related dementias (ADRD) require support. Organizations have pivoted from traditional in-person support groups to virtual care in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. We describe two model programs and their pragmatic implementation of virtual care platforms for ADRD caregiver support. A mixed methods analysis of quantitative outcomes as well as a thematic analysis from semi-structured interviews of facilitators was performed as part of a pragmatic quality improvement project to enhance delivery of virtual support services for ADRD caregivers. Implementation differed among individual organizations but was well received by facilitators and caregivers. While virtual platforms can present challenges, older adults appreciated the strength of group facilitators and reported enhanced connectedness related to virtual support. Barriers to success include the limitations of virtual programming, including technological issues and distractions from program delivery. Virtual support can extend outreach, addressing access and providing safe care during a pandemic. Implementation differs among organizations; however, some elements of virtual support may be long-lasting.

Opioid Management in Older Adults: Lessons Learned From a Geriatric Patient-Centered Medical Home.

BACKGROUND: The United States continues to confront an opioid crisis that also affects older adults. Best practices for prescription opioid management in older adults are challenging to implement in this population. We present our experience with a 1-year management of 48 high-risk older patients who received guideline-based best practices for chronic prescription opioid therapy at a US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) patient aligned care team (PACT) patient-centered medical home. METHODS: The GeriPACT population at the Nashville Campus of the VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System has an enrollment of 745 patients of whom 48 (6.5%) receive chronic prescription opioid therapy. The practice is supported by the VA Computerized Patients Record System, including the electronic patient portal, My healtheVet, and telemedicine capabilities. Data were collected by chart review and operations data. RESULTS: The mean (range) age of patients was 70.4 (66-93) years. Many patients had comorbid conditions, such as diabetes mellitus (35%), congestive heart failure (18.6%), and dementia (8.3%). More than half had an estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR) < 60 mL/min, indicating at least stage 3 chronic kidney disease, 41.7% used mental health services (41.7%), and 20.8% had a history of opioid use disorder. Most indications for chronic pain were for musculoskeletal pain (95.8%). The mean (range) morphine equivalent daily dose was 37 mg (10-109). More than half had been seen in the emergency department, and 20.8% had been hospitalized in the previous year for an opioid-related hospitalization, and 3% had expired. Over the year, dose reductions of benzodiazepines or narcotics was performed for 12.5% of patients, accidental overdoses occurred in 4.2%, and positive urine drug screens (UDSs) for cocaine and cannabinoid/tetrahydrocannabinol occurred in 10.4%. One patient was terminated from the program for multiple positive UDSs. CONCLUSIONS: Guideline-based patient-centered medical home management of patients with chronic pain who were treated with opioids can be an effective model contributing to the health and well-being of older patients. Complex older patients on chronic opioid treatment are best managed by an interdisciplinary team.

Multidisciplinary lifestyle modification program (IM-FIT) for cancer survivors: implementation of a reimbursable model in a cancer hospital.

PURPOSE: We examined the initial effects of a real-world application of a multimodal, reimbursable program to improve lifestyle and promote healthy weight loss in cancer survivors as part of their care. METHODS: The lifestyle program (Integrative Medicine Fitness Program; IM-FIT) focusing on increasing physical activity and strength training, improving nutrition, and facilitating stress management and behavior change was delivered in a group format over 12 weeks. Patients met weekly with a physical therapist, dietitian, and psychologist. Body composition and behavioral data were collected at the start and end of 12 weeks, as well as fitness, nutrition, and psychological data. The first cohort started in September 2017, and the last cohort ended in August 2019. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients (92% female; mean age = 62.7, SD = 9) completed the program, which was pre-approved and covered as in-network by their health insurance. Patients lost an average of 3.9% of their body weight (SD = - 2.2). There was a significant reduction in white bread and desserts and increase in legumes and non-dairy milk. Time spent in vigorous exercise (p < .001), strength training (p < .001), and total exercise (p < .001) significantly increased. Patients reported reduction in depression (7.76 to 4.29; p = .01), anxiety (6.14 to 3.29; p < .01), and overall distress (4.70 to 3.40; p < .01). CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that a multi-disciplinary weight loss program can be tailored to cancer survivors leading to weight reduction and improvements in lifestyle factors and mental health. This program showed successful real-world implementation with insurance reimbursement.

Integrative Oncology Consultations Delivered via Telehealth in 2020 and In-Person in 2019: Paradigm Shift During the COVID-19 World Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has catalyzed the use of mobile technologies to deliver health care. This new medical model has benefited integrative oncology (IO) consultations, where cancer patients are counseled about healthy lifestyle, non-pharmacological approaches for symptom management, and addressing questions around natural products and other integrative modalities. Here we report the feasibility of conducting IO physician consultations via telehealth in 2020 and compare patient characteristics to prior in-person consultations conducted in 2019. METHODS: An integrated EHR-telemedicine platform was used for IO physician consultations. As in the prior in-person visits, patients completed pre-visit patient-reported outcome (PRO) assessments about common cancer symptoms [modified Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale, (ESAS)], Measure Yourself Concerns and Wellbeing (MYCaW), and the PROMIS-10 to assess quality of life (QOL). Patient demographics, clinical characteristics, and PROs for new telehealth consultation in 2020 were compared to new in-person consultations in 2019 using t-tests, chi-squared tests, and -Wilcoxon rank-sum test. RESULTS: We provided telehealth IO consultations to 509 new patients from April 21, 2020, to October 21, 2020, versus 842 new patients in-person during the same period in 2019. Most were female (77 % vs 73%); median age (56 vs 58), and the most frequent cancer type was breast (48% vs 39%). More patients were seeking counseling on herbs and supplements (12.9 vs 6.8%) and lifestyle (diet 22.7 vs 16.9% and exercise 5.2 vs 1.8%) in the 2020 cohort than 2019, respectively. The 2020 telehealth cohort had lower symptom management concerns compared to the 2019 in-person cohort (19.5 vs 33.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Delivering IO consultations using telehealth is feasible and meets patients' needs. Compared to patients seen in-person during 2019, patients having telehealth IO consultations in 2020 reported lower symptom burden and more concerns about lifestyle and herbs and supplements. Additional research is warranted to explore the satisfaction and challenges among patients receiving telehealth IO care.

Geriatric Care Models.

This Special Issue on geriatric care models features 18 papers highlighting the evolving nature of healthcare delivery and the leadership and quality enhancement research provided by geriatric care models [...].

The GeriPACT Initiative to Prevent All-Cause 30-Day Readmission in High Risk Elderly.

BACKGROUND: Suboptimal care transitions increases the risk of adverse events resulting from poor care coordination among providers and healthcare facilities. The National Transition of Care Coalition recommends shifting the discharge paradigm from discharge from the hospital, to transfer with continuous management. The patient centered medical home is a promising model, which improves care coordination and may reduce hospital readmissions. METHODS: This is a quality improvement report, the geriatric patient-aligned care team (GeriPACT) at Tennessee Valley Healthcare System (TVHS) participated in ongoing quality improvement (Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA)) cycles during teamlet meetings. Post home discharge follow-up for GeriPACT patients was provided by proactive telehealth communication by the Registered Nurse (RN) care manager and nurse practitioner. Periodic operations data obtained from the Data and Statistical Services (DSS) coordinator informed the PDSA cycles and teamlet meetings. RESULTS: at baseline (July 2018-June 2019) the 30-day all-cause readmission for GeriPACT was 21%. From July to December 2019, 30-day all-cause readmissions were 13%. From January to June 2020, 30-day all-cause readmissions were 15%. CONCLUSION: PDSA cycles with sharing of operations data during GeriPACT teamlet meetings and fostering a shared responsibility for managing high-risk patients contributes to improved outcomes in 30-day all-cause readmissions.

Choroidal Structural Analysis in Alzheimer Disease, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Cognitively Healthy Controls.

PURPOSE: To assess choroidal structural parameters in symptomatic Alzheimer disease (AD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and cognitively healthy control subjects. DESIGN: Prospective cross-sectional study. METHODS: This study took place in an outpatient neurological disorders clinic. Participants included 67 patients (112 eyes) with AD, 74 patients (143 eyes) with MCI, and 137 (248 eyes) control subjects. Subjects with diabetes, glaucoma, or retinal pathology were excluded. High-definition enhanced depth imaging foveal scans were obtained using Zeiss Cirrus HD-5000 AngioPlex. Subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) was measured by 2 masked graders with a third adjudicator. Total choroidal area (TCA), luminal area (LA), and the choroidal vascularity index (CVI) were calculated after image binarization. Association of choroidal parameters with AD, MCI, or control subjects was assessed using multivariable generalized estimating equations, adjusted for age, sex, and visual acuity. RESULTS: After adjustment for age, sex, and visual acuity, TCA was significantly greater in patients with AD (ß = 2.73; p = .001) and MCI (ß = 4.38; p < .001) compared with control subjects. LA was significantly greater in patients with AD (ß = 1.68; p = .001) and MCI (ß = 2.69; p < .001) compared with control subjects, and CVI was significantly lower in patients with MCI (ß = -0.58; p = .002) compared with control subjects. SFCT was similar among patients with AD and MCI and control subjects on multivariable analysis (p > .05). CONCLUSIONS: TCA, LA, and CVI may differ between patients with AD, MCI, and healthy cognition, whereas SFCT may not differ among these groups. TCA, LA, and CVI deserve further study in subjects on the Alzheimer continuum.

Association of OCT Angiography Parameters With Age in Cognitively Healthy Older Adults.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association of changes in retinal anatomy and microvasculature with age and sex in cognitively healthy older adults. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study of cognitively healthy subjects aged 50 years and older who underwent optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) to estimate the association between age and sex with ganglion cell layer-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL); central subfield thickness (CST); subfoveal choroidal thickness (CT); foveal avascular zone (FAZ) size; and superficial (SCP), deep (DCP), and whole capillary plexus (WCP) vessel density (VD) and perfusion density (PD) measured in the ETDRS 3-mm and 6-mm circle and rings. RESULTS: Among 141 older adults (72.9% female; median age: 69 years), 282 eyes were imaged. Females had a greater CT, GC-IPL thickness, and FAZ size and a lower CST than males. After controlling for sex, both CT (P = .001) and GC-IPL thickness (P < .001) decreased with age, whereas FAZ size and CST did not. There was a reduction in VD and PD in SCP, DCP, and WCP with age in the 3-mm circle, 3-mm ring, and 6-mm circle (all P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant reduction in both VD and PD, as well as decreased choroidal and GC-IPL thickness associated with aging, even beyond the fifth decade, in cognitively healthy adults. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2020;51:706-714.].