{"id":20360,"date":"2022-01-02T11:48:07","date_gmt":"2022-01-02T11:48:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/?page_id=20360"},"modified":"2022-01-02T11:48:07","modified_gmt":"2022-01-02T11:48:07","slug":"eye-health-and-dementia-is-there-a-link","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-eye-health\/eye-health-and-dementia-is-there-a-link\/","title":{"rendered":"Eye Health and Dementia &#8211; Is there a Link?"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><b>Yes, a recent study suggests that certain eye diseases may increase the risk of dementia.<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>A study was published in the <i>British Journal of Ophthalmology (September, 2021),<\/i> suggesting that certain eye conditions including<a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-eye-conditions\/macular-degeneration-guide\/\"> age-related macular degeneration (AMD),<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-eye-conditions\/guide-to-cataracts\/\">cataracts<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-eye-conditions\/guide-to-diabetes-and-the-eyes\/diabetic-retinopathy\/\">diabetes-related eye disease,<\/a> may be associated with an increased risk of dementia.<\/p>\n<p>This observational study included more than 12,300 participants aged 55 to 73 \u2014 some of which had been diagnosed with AMD, cataracts, diabetes-related eye disease or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-eye-conditions\/glaucoma-guide\/\">glaucoma<\/a>. An initial assessment took place between 2006 and 2010 and periodic follow-up evaluations were conducted until 2021.<\/p>\n<p>During this study, 2,300 participants developed dementia.<\/p>\n<h2><b>Results of the study<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>According to the study, the following was shown:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Diabetes-related eye disease increases the risk of dementia by 61%\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Age-related macular degeneration increases the risk of dementia by 26%\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Cataracts increases the risk of dementia by 11%\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Although glaucoma did not directly correlate with an increased risk of Alzheimer\u2019s, the study did find a correlation between glaucoma and vascular dementia, a type of dementia that often surfaces following a stroke.<\/p>\n<p>Researchers also found a higher risk of dementia among those diagnosed with multiple eye conditions, as well as among those diagnosed with an eye condition in addition to a systemic condition, such as diabetes or a history of stroke or heart disease.<\/p>\n<p>This study highlights a correlation between certain eye conditions and dementia, but emphasizes that eye conditions do not actually cause dementia.<\/p>\n<h2><b>Vision problems related to dementia<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Vision problems and sometimes vision loss, may be one of the first signs of dementia, and according to research, when the visual pathways are not stimulated, dementia can progress more rapidly.<\/p>\n<p>Dementia often causes vision problems which can interfere with daily living, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Difficulty reading<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Difficulty with facial recognition<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Disinterest in hobbies and daily activities<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Difficulty locating objects<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Uncoordinated body movements<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If these behaviors are noticed, an eye exam can help to determine if an eye condition is at the root of these difficulties.<\/p>\n<p><b>SEE RELATED: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-eye-health\/eyes-and-nutrition\/\">Eyes and Nutrition<\/a><\/p>\n<p><b>If you suspect that a relative with dementia may be experiencing vision loss,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/practice-search\/\"> schedule an evaluation with an optometrist.<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n\n\t<div class=\"practice-search-widget\">\n\t\t<h3>Find an eye doctor near you<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t<form class=\"practice-search-form practice-search-form-widget\" action=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/practice-search\/results\/\" method=\"get\">\n\n\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"distance\" value=\"100\" class=\"practice-search-distance\">\n\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"page\" class=\"practice-search-page\">\n\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"address_latitude\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"address_longitude\">\n\n\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"address\" class=\"practice-search-address\" placeholder=\"City, Surburb or Address\" value=\"\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"distance\" value=\"100\" class=\"practice-search-distance\">\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t<button type=\"submit\" class=\"practice-search-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 19\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M10.6796 0.130005C9.15708 0.130059 7.66615 0.5646 6.38198 1.38258C5.09781 2.20057 4.07373 3.36803 3.43004 4.74783C2.78634 6.12763 2.54976 7.66246 2.74808 9.17205C2.9464 10.6816 3.57139 12.1033 4.54964 13.27L0.729639 17.08C0.6364 17.1732 0.562439 17.2839 0.511979 17.4058C0.461519 17.5276 0.435547 17.6581 0.435547 17.79C0.435547 17.9219 0.461519 18.0524 0.511979 18.1743C0.562439 18.2961 0.6364 18.4068 0.729639 18.5C0.917942 18.6883 1.17334 18.7941 1.43964 18.7941C1.5715 18.7941 1.70207 18.7681 1.82389 18.7177C1.94571 18.6672 2.0564 18.5932 2.14964 18.5L5.99964 14.62C7.35406 15.6038 8.98566 16.1324 10.6596 16.13C12.7814 16.13 14.8162 15.2871 16.3165 13.7869C17.8168 12.2866 18.6596 10.2517 18.6596 8.13C18.6596 6.00827 17.8168 3.97344 16.3165 2.47315C14.8162 0.97286 12.7814 0.130005 10.6596 0.130005H10.6796ZM10.6796 14.13C9.49295 14.13 8.33291 13.7781 7.34622 13.1188C6.35952 12.4595 5.59049 11.5225 5.13636 10.4261C4.68224 9.32975 4.56342 8.12335 4.79493 6.95946C5.02644 5.79558 5.59788 4.72648 6.437 3.88736C7.27611 3.04825 8.34521 2.4768 9.5091 2.24529C10.673 2.01378 11.8794 2.1326 12.9757 2.58673C14.0721 3.04085 15.0092 3.80989 15.6685 4.79658C16.3277 5.78328 16.6796 6.94332 16.6796 8.13C16.6796 9.7213 16.0475 11.2474 14.9223 12.3726C13.7971 13.4979 12.2709 14.13 10.6796 14.13Z\" fill=\"#fff\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"practice-search-use-my-location\">\n\t\t\tSearch near me\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\n\t<\/form>\n\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<h2><b>Tips and strategies for dementia-related vision problems<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Here are some practical ways to help those with dementia-related vision problems:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Schedule an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-eye-exams\/\">eye exam<\/a> with the first signs of dementia.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Schedule regular eye exams to ensure their optical prescription is up-to-date.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Take advantage of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-low-vision\/low-vision\/guide-to-low-vision-magnifiers\/\">low vision aids and devices<\/a> that can help maximize on their remaining vision.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Speak with a low vision optometrist about practical tips and home devices that can be helpful for living with dementia and\/or vision loss.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Consider installing automatic lights to increase safety and reduce the risk of accidents and falls.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>LEARN MORE: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-eye-health\/\">Guide to Eye Health<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>If you suspect that a relative with dementia may be experiencing vision loss, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/practice-search\/\">schedule an evaluation with an optometrist.<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<p><i>A recent study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology (Sept 2021) suggests there may be a strong link between vision loss and dementia.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n<p><i>According to this study eye conditions or vision loss can lead to the development of cognitive decline, including dementia and Alzheimer\u2019s.<\/i><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Yes, a recent study suggests that certain eye diseases may increase the risk of dementia. A study was published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1206,"featured_media":20361,"parent":12328,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-article.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20360","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Eye Health and Dementia - Is there a Link? - Optometrists.org<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-eye-health\/eye-health-and-dementia-is-there-a-link\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Eye Health and Dementia - Is there a Link? - Optometrists.org\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Yes, a recent study suggests that certain eye diseases may increase the risk of dementia. 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