Retinal Microvascular Abnormalities Predict Progression of Brain Microvascular Disease An Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

Background and Purpose Brain microvascular disease leads to leukoaraiosis and lacunar infarcts and contributes to risk of stroke and cognitive decline. Given a shared pathophysiology, retinal microvascular signs are expected to predict brain microvascular disease progression. We investigated if either leukoaraiosis volume progression measured continuously or combined with incident lacunar infarcts would better demonstrate expected associations with retinal disease than has previously been shown. Methods Eight hundred thirty participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study aged 55 years and without previous stroke received an initial brain magnetic resonance imaging, retinal photography, and, 10 years later, a follow up magnetic resonance imaging. We evaluated retinal vascular sign phenotypes as predictors of (1) leukoaraiosis volume increase, and (2) a new score combining leukoaraiosis volume change and incident lacunar infarcts. Hypertension and diabetes mellitus were evaluated as confounders and effect modifiers. Results Individuals with any retinopathy (3.34 cm(3); 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.74-5.96) or with arteriovenous nicking (2.61 cm(3); 95% CI, 0.80-4.42) each had greater progression of leukoaraiosis compared with those without these conditions. Any retinopathy (odds ratio [OR], 3.18; 95% CI, 1.71-5.89) or its componentsmicroaneurysms (OR, 3.06; 95% CI, 1.33-7.07) and retinal hemorrhage (OR, 3.02; 95% CI, 1.27-7.20)as well as arteriovenous nicking (OR, 1.93; 95%, CI 1.24-3.02) and focal arteriolar narrowing (OR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.19-2.59), were associated with a higher quartile of a novel brain microvascular disease score combining leukoaraiosis progression with incident subclinical lacunes. Conclusions A novel scoring method revealed associations of retinal signs with leukoaraiosis progression and brain microvascular disease, which have not been shown before.