Scientists from Peking University found that older people with untreated vision problems may be at increased risk of dementia.
The results highlight a need to examine the impact of correcting sight problems in older adults—for example, with glasses or cataract surgery—to prevent cognitive problems and dementia.
The research is published in Aging and Mental Health and was conducted by Associate Professor Beibei Xu et al.
In the study, the team reviewed 16 published studies involving 76,373 participants.
Nearly 1 million people are estimated to be living with dementia in the U.K.—and that number is set to increase over the next few decades as the population ages.
The disease has a devastating impact on people’s lives. As their disease progresses, they will experience greater memory loss and changes in their personality and behavior.
Ultimately, they will become completely dependent on others for their care.
In the study, the team found people with a sight problem had a higher risk of cognitive impairment and dementia.
The likelihood of having a cognitive impairment was 137% higher among people who had a sight problem compared to those who did not.
People who had a sight problem before follow-up had a 41% increased risk of developing cognitive impairment and a 44% increased risk of dementia, compared with those who did not.
The team says finding ways to prevent or delay the onset of dementia could help reduce its devastating impact on the lives of affected people and their families, especially in light of the growing burden of the disease.
Identifying modifiable risk factors is the first critical step in developing effective interventions to achieve this goal.
The new results highlight the importance of regular eye examinations for older adults—enabling any potential problems with their vision to be spotted and treated early.
If you care about eye health, please read studies about 5 dangerous signs you have diabetes-related eye disease, and the best foods for your eye health and eyesight.
For more information about eye health, please see recent studies about how to protect your eyes from glaucoma, and results showing how to save your eyes from diabetes.
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