Is Eye Health a Risk Factor for Dementia?

A recently published study indicates that nearly 1 in 5 of all dementia cases could be associated with vision impairment. This suggests that better eye health could help lower the rate of dementia by nearly 20%.

Dementia does not refer to a specific disease but is a general term for impairments in the ability to recall, think, or make decisions. These impairments inhibit individuals from performing daily tasks, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The most common type of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease.

Around 5.6 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia, the study found. In total, up to 19 percent of dementia cases were associated with at least one vision impairment, according to researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The rate was slightly higher among participants aged 71-79, women, and non-Hispanic white people. This tracks with past research showing that women are nearly twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than men. This is primarily due to women living longer.

Researchers have noted that their findings do not prove a cause-and-effect relationship. To put it another way, the “total contribution of vision impairment later in life to dementia may be substantial. The researchers wrote that this could lead to new dementia prevention strategies. “Importantly, more than 90% of vision impairments are preventable or correctable,” the researchers wrote.

Analyzing the study

To conduct the research, the research team looked at data from 2,767 American adults aged 65 and older in 2021. The participants underwent cognitive exams and testing for three types of visual impairment including near acuity, or one’s ability to see close objects; distance acuity, or one’s ability to see distant objects, and contrast sensitivity, or one’s ability to perceive sharp and clear outlines of very small objects.

According to the findings, about 5 percent of dementia cases were connected to vision impairment related to distance acuity; nearly 10 percent were related to near acuity, and 15 percent to contrast sensitivity.

Much of the current research being performed on Alzheimer’s disease is focused on risk factors and prevention. Several risk factors have been identified and doctors are beginning to understand the relationships between these risk factors and Alzheimer’s disease. Other risk factors include high blood pressure, diabetes, physical inactivity, completing lower levels of education, obesity, high cholesterol, and exposure to air pollution later in life. Each of these risk factors is more highly represented in those with dementia than in the general population.

Talk to a Virginia Beach, VA Elder Law Attorney Today 

If your older loved one is starting to show signs of dementia, or it runs in your family, it may be time to consider long-term care planning. Your loved one will need to be able to pay for healthcare services related to their condition. Our Virginia Beach estate planning lawyers can help protect their assets and ensure that those assets are being spent on their well-being. Call the Law Office of Angela N. Manz today to learn more about how we can help.

Source:

thehill.com/policy/healthcare/4864204-dementia-cases-preventable-eye-health-research/