A study reveals the relationship between vision problems and dementia

Health in old age is becoming an increasingly important topic as life expectancy increases. Dementia, a disease that affects at least 1.76 million people over the age of 60 in Brazil, has been the subject of research in the health sector, which seeks to understand the many factors that can trigger the onset of the disease. One of these factors is related to possible vision problems.

This is according to an analysis published in the journal JAMA Ophthalmology, which indicates an increased likelihood of dementia among older people diagnosed with eye problems. The reason is due to an interesting statistical relationship: the number of vision problems appears to be directly related to the risk of developing dementia.

What is the relationship between vision and dementia?

The study, conducted by experts at the University of Michigan, took into account data from the 2021 National Health and Aging Trends Study. In total, the study took into account information from 2,967 participants over the age of 71, who found a relationship between all types of vision problems and a higher incidence. Not only dementia, but also Alzheimer’s disease.

What are the most important vision problems studied?

Among the vision problems observed in the study, the following stand out: distance visual acuity, also known as distance vision acuity, which measures the ability of the human eye to see objects clearly at a distance; Near visual acuity, which evaluates how well a person can see up close; Contrast sensitivity, which measures the ability to distinguish between an object and the background on it, or between two similar colors.

Is it possible to prevent dementia by treating vision problems?

According to the results, treating visual problems could be a crucial factor in preventing dementia. They point out that the loss of visual stimuli can cause a decrease in mental engagement, which in turn leads to an increased likelihood of developing dementia. Thus, the study suggests that by maintaining visual health, it is possible to reduce the risk of developing dementia in old age.

Source: Ratraca Liver.