Do eye diseases increase dementia risk?

This is the 4757th article of Da Yi Xiao Hu

Recently, a large number of academic articles have revealed that eye diseases increase the risk of dementia?

Is this conclusion reliable? How are eye diseases related to dementia?

Certain eye conditions, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts and diabetes-related eye disease, may be associated with an increased risk of dementia, suggests a study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

The observational study included more than 12,300 participants aged 55 to 73, some of whom had been diagnosed with AMD, cataracts, diabetes-related eye disease, or glaucoma. Initial evaluations were conducted between 2006 and 2010, with follow-up evaluations conducted regularly until 2021. During the study, 2,300 participants developed dementia.

According to the research, the results are as follows:

• Diabetes-related eye disease increases dementia risk by 61%
• Age-related macular degeneration increases risk of dementia by 26%
• Cataracts increase risk of dementia by 11%

Although glaucoma was not directly linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease, the study did find a correlation between glaucoma and vascular dementia, a type of dementia that often develops after a stroke.

The researchers also found that people who were diagnosed with multiple eye conditions, as well as those who had eye conditions in addition to systemic illnesses such as diabetes, stroke or a history of heart disease, had a higher risk of developing dementia.

Coincidentally, another study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Ophthalmology showed that vision loss in the elderly over 71 may be related to dementia. Researchers at the University of Michigan analyzed data from nearly 3,000 American citizens over the age of 71. This larger study tested the participants' vision and recorded their scores for near vision, distance vision, and their ability to distinguish objects against different backgrounds.

They found that participants with vision loss were more likely to develop dementia than those without vision problems.

Vision problems, and sometimes even vision loss, can be one of the first symptoms of dementia, and according to research, dementia progresses faster when the visual pathways are not stimulated.

Dementia often causes vision problems that can affect daily life, including:

• Dyslexia
• Difficulty recognizing faces
• Loss of interest in hobbies and daily activities
• Difficulty locating objects
• Uncoordinated body movements

If these behaviors are noticed, an eye exam can help determine if an eye condition is the root of these difficulties.

Therefore, vision management is a way to reduce the risk of dementia.

Author: Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University

Shen Jun, deputy chief nurse

Gu WenbingAttending Physician