Interactive effect of retinal microvascular impairment and larger lesion diameter on cognitive impairment in lacunar infarction.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Lacunar infarction (LI), a subtype of ischemic stroke caused by cerebral small vessel disease (SVD), is strongly associated with post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI). While neuroimaging biomarkers are critical for diagnosis, their accessibility and cost limit routine use. The retina, as an extension of the central nervous system, offers a non-invasive window to study microvascular pathology. This study investigates the synergistic impact of infarct lesion volume and retinal microvascular metrics on cognitive impairment in LI patients.

Methods

We prospectively enrolled 112 LI patients and 128 controls. Retinal vascular parameters (tortuosity, vessel density, fractal dimension) were quantified from color fundus photographs, and lesion diameter was measured via MR

SUBMITTER: Kwapong WR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12930661 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature