Age-related rarefaction in the fractal dimension of retinal vessel

Che Azemin, Mohd Zulfaezal and Kumar, Dinesh Kant and Wong, Tien Y. and Wang, Jie Jin and Mitchell, Paul and Kawasaki, Ryo and Wu, Henry (2012) Age-related rarefaction in the fractal dimension of retinal vessel. Neurobiology of Aging, 33 (1). 194.e1-194.e4. ISSN 0197-4580

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Abstract

Previous work suggests a general reduction in complexity with aging, referred to as the aging-complexity theory. Fractal dimension (FD) of the vessels in the retina is a global measure of the complexity of the vasculature. However, earlier works did not find any correlation between aging and FD of the retinal vasculature, in contrast to the findings of reduced complexity in other parts of the body. The authors tested the hypothesis that reduced complexity develops with advancing age in the structure of the retinal vasculature. To overcome the limitations of earlier works, a three-dimensional representation of the vasculature, together with Fourier fractal dimension (FFD) techniques, was used. Based on the analysis of 748 retinal images taken of persons aged 49-89 years, we observed a significant decrease in the FFD with aging (p < 0.0001). These data provide evidence supporting rarefaction (i.e. reduction) of the retinal vasculature with aging, consistent with observations from other human organ systems.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Additional Information:	6768/24913
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Aging-complexity theory; Fractal dimension; Retinal vasculature
Subjects:	R Medicine > RE Ophthalmology
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences > Department of Optometry and Visual Science Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences
Depositing User:	Dr. Mohd Zulfaezal Che Azemin
Date Deposited:	11 Jan 2013 08:57
Last Modified:	30 Jun 2022 16:15
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/24913

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