\nVision impairments are linked to a greater risk of dementia, a new study finds.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \nGrowing evidence demonstrates the connection between eye health and brain health, specifically how vision impacts cognitive function. The new study, published in JAMA Ophthalmology<\/em>, showed that people with untreated visual impairments have a higher chance of developing dementia.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \nResearchers reviewed the 2021 National Health and Aging Trends Study, examining data from approximately 3,000 people, age 71 and older. Slightly over half of the participants were female and about 75% of identified as non-Hispanic White.\n<\/p>\n \nStudy author Olivia Killeen, MD, MS told Health<\/em> that three types of visual impairment were studied: near vision (reading vision), distance vision (used for driving or watching TV across the room), and contrast sensitivity (the ability to distinguish objects of similar color as their surroundings).\n<\/p>\n \nAll three types of visual impairments showed a greater correlation with dementia than participants without any visual impairment.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cImpairments in each of these were associated with dementia, and having multiple types of visual impairments was more closely associated with dementia,\u201d said Killeen, who is a clinical lecturer of ophthalmology and visual sciences at the University of Michigan.\n<\/p>\n \nWhile there are many well-known reasons for dementia, vision isn\u2019t typically the first that comes to mind.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cWhat makes the study interesting is that the persons affected probably don\u2019t realize that their vision issues may be connected to dementia, even though it makes sense that uncorrected vision problems could lead to dementia,\u201d Vicente Diaz, MD, chief of Ophthalmology at Bridgeport Hospital told Health<\/em>.\n<\/p>\n \nThis new research further emphasizes that all aspects of an individual\u2019s health are connected.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cLiving in a blurry world increases dementia risk but the patients don\u2019t necessarily realize it,\u201d Diaz said. \u201cThe reverse is also true, sometimes after cataract surgery or other interventions where we bring vision back, patients\u2019 cognition can improve.\u201d\n<\/p>\n Getty Images \/ aire images<\/p>\n <\/span> Eye Problems: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span> <\/p>\n \nIt is unknown if visual impairment came before dementia, causing it, or if the two are simply correlating issues.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cThis study found a correlation between visual impairment and dementia, but we do not know which came first,\u201d Killeen said.\n<\/p>\n \nWhile doctors are still exploring the relationship between eye health and brain health, sensory rehabilitation can be a good place to start.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cIt must be emphasized that in no way did this study demonstrate cause and effect,\u201d Howard R. Krauss, MD, a surgical neuro-ophthalmologist and director of Pacific Neuroscience Institute\u2019s Eye, Ear & Skull Base Center at Providence Saint John\u2019s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA, told Health<\/em>.\n<\/p>\n \nWhile the study does not prove causation or acceleration between visual impairment and dementia, experts agree it\u2019s worth being aware of the correlation.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cOn the other hand, it is sensible to believe that sensory deprivation may further impair cognition or mood in those with dementia, and there is benefit in providing sensory rehabilitation (sight, hearing, olfaction, etc.) in an effort to improve quality of life for those with dementia,\u201d Krauss said.\n<\/p>\n <\/span> <\/p>\n \nThe only way to know the status of your eye health and brain health is to visit a healthcare professional.\n<\/p>\n \nArman Fesharaki-Zadeh, MD, a behavioral neurologist at Yale New Haven Health, explained the discussions pertaining to eye health and cognitive health should ideally start from the primary care physician (PCP) regular annual assessment sessions. \n<\/p>\n \nHe noted that it\u2019s often helpful to include a patient\u2019s family members and loved ones in conversations like this, since they can bring a more objective view on the patient\u2019s visual and cognitive symptoms.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cIf such accounts are provided, patient\u2019s PCP can initiate further pertinent vision and cognitive work up via referral to the appropriate specialist provider,\u201d he said.\n<\/p>\n \nInterestingly, there is research to show a link between vision improvement (as seen through cataract surgery) and a decreased dementia risk.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cIt is difficult to say that one\u2019s intrinsic eye health affects the brain in a structural way, however, there is some evidence that cataract surgery is associated with lower risk of dementia development, suggesting that interventions to improve vision in older adults may help to maximize cognitive function,\u201d Ore-Ofe Adesina, MD, associate professor of ophthalmology with McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston told Health<\/em>.\n<\/p>\n \nHe emphasized that the study indicates that visual impairment is associated with a higher prevalence of dementia among older adults.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cTherefore, if someone is experiencing significant visual impairment or has been diagnosed with an eye condition, it may be prudent to consult a healthcare professional, such as an ophthalmologist or neurologist, to discuss potential connections between their eye health and brain health,\u201d he said.\n<\/p>\n What Happens To Your Body When You Sleep In Contacts?<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span> <\/p>\n \nExperts agree that vision care should be a priority.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cThe American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that people 65 and older get routine eye exams every 1\u20132 years,\u201d Killeen said. \u201cPatients should also see their eye doctor whenever they have a problem, like\u00a0blurry vision, eye pain, or eye redness.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \nSometimes people do not visit the eye doctor because they assume that losing vision is a normal part of aging. But it\u2019s not. Most eye problems are treatable, Killeen explained.\n<\/p>\n \nAsk your eye doctor if you have signs of common eye problems that impact older people, like cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration.\n<\/p>\n \nAlso, \u201cif there is an eye disease that runs in the family, definitely ask about it at the eye exam,\u201d Diaz said. \u201cIf the patient has other medical conditions they should ask about how those impact the eyes.\u00a0Any eye symptoms that are new should warrant consultation by an ophthalmologist.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \nAnother important factor to take into consideration is how vision is one of the main ways we process information.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cMemory and cognitive functioning is predicated on encoding and gathering of environmental information, and vision plays a key role in this process,\u201d Fesharaki-Zadeh explained.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cIndividuals are highly encouraged to remain vigilant and address visual concerns, which might arise in various settings including driving, walking as well as looking at display devices during their annual PCP visits,\u201d he said.\n<\/p>\n \nIdeally, PCP physicians can further facilitate these discussions by including brief vision and cognitive screening for individuals 65 years or older, or younger patients with reported symptoms, Fesharaki-Zadeh said.\n<\/p>\n To better prioritize eye health, Adesina recommends people discuss the following with their eye care professional:<\/p>\n \nIt\u2019s important to note that these are general suggestions, and specific recommendations may vary depending on individual circumstances. Consulting with an eye care professional is crucial for personalized advice and guidance regarding eye health.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A new study found a link between vision impairments and dementia risk in older adults. The study does not prove causation, but experts note that previous research has seen patients' cognitive function improve after improved eye health, so the correlation is worth considering. Experts recommend people prioritize regular eye care, especially those with a family […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":17298,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[410,1137],"tags":[116,1138],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17298"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17298"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17298\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17298"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17298"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17298"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17298"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Man](\"https:\/\/www.health.com\/thmb\/Cp682p3aXgIXtS8wRNoCvdORiMU=\/1500x0\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()\/GettyImages-1394673202-46779936c408444e8453de2530ac3409.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n A Correlation Between Visual Impairment and Dementia <\/span> <\/h2>\n
How Eye Health Might Impact Brain Health <\/span> <\/h2>\n
Maintaining Proper Eye Health <\/span> <\/h2>\n
\nAsking Important Eye Health Questions<\/h3>\n
\n