Dementia more common in older adults with vision issues
Losing the ability to see clearly while also losing the ability to remember and think clearly are among the most dreaded, and preventable, health issues linked with aging.
Now, a new study supports the idea that vision problems and dementia are connected.
The research was published in JAMA Ophthalmology by a team from the Kellogg Eye Center at Michigan Medicine, the University of Michigan’s academic medical center.
In a sample of nearly 3,000 older adults who took vision tests and cognitive tests, the risk of dementia was higher among those with eyesight problems, including those who weren’t able to see well even when they were wearing their usual eyeglasses or contact lenses.
All of the older adults in the study were over the age of 71, with an average age of 77. They took tests of vision acuity, memory and thinking ability and provided health information including any existing diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia.
Just over 12% of the whole group had dementia. But that percentage was higher – nearly 22% - among those who had impaired vision farsightedness.
Moreover, 33% of those with moderate or severe distance vision impairment, including those who were blind, had signs of dementia. So did 26% of those who had trouble seeing letters that didn’t contrast strongly against a background. Even among those with a mild distance vision issue, 19% had dementia.
After the researchers adjusted for other differences in health status and personal characteristics, people with moderate to severe distance vision issues were 72% more likely than those with no vision issues to have dementia. Those who had more than one kind of vision impairment were also 35% more likely to have dementia than those with normal vision.
Equitable access to vision care services, timely examination by the ophthalmologist will help to maintain the ability to clearly see and think.
