Is there a link between vision impairment and dementia?

Does your elderly mother or father have a hard time reading the newspaper, taking a pill, or watching TV? Do they often say, "Oh, I'm too lazy to put on these glasses"? You may have seen them having trouble recognizing people from a distance. We usually think of these as normal things that happen as we get older. But in fact, the latest research has found that there may be a strong link between untreated vision impairment and a serious disease called dementia. Let's talk about this in a simple way today.

What is this new discovery?

Recently, a study published in the world-renowned medical journal `JAMA Ophthalmology` has revealed many important facts about this. In fact, this is the most comprehensive study conducted on this topic in 15 years.

For this, nearly 3,000 people aged 71 and above have participated. Several special tests have been done to check their eyesight. In addition, information has been collected about their memory and dementia status.

These tests mainly looked at:

• Distance vision: How clearly you can see distant objects.
• Near vision: How well you can see things that are close by, like reading a newspaper or threading a needle.
• Contrast Sensitivity: This is a bit of a special case. Simply put, it's the ability to distinguish and recognize something against a similar background. For example, a light gray switch on a gray wall, or a car on a foggy day.

In the past, this kind of research was done by asking people, "Do you have poor eyesight?" But that's not always accurate. The specialty of this research is that it accurately tests the eyes and obtains data.

Are the results really significant?

Yes. The results of this study are truly thought-provoking. Overall, 12% of the participants had dementia. However, when we looked at those with untreated vision impairment separately, the picture was very different.

This can be clearly understood from the table below.

This clearly shows that if there is any visual impairment, not wearing glasses or other treatment for it significantly increases the risk of dementia. And if someone has several of these vision problems at the same time, the risk is even higher.

Why does vision affect the brain so much?

Now you may be wondering, "How can a problem with the eyes be related to a brain disease?" There could be several reasons for this.

1. Social Isolation

Imagine that your mother or father cannot see well. When family members are together and talking, it is difficult for them to connect with the conversation because they cannot see faces clearly. Even if they go to meet a friend, they cannot recognize people on the street, so they gradually reduce their time out. In this way, due to their poor vision, they gradually withdraw from society and become lonely. This isolation from society is a major risk factor for developing diseases such as dementia.

2. Decreased stimulation to the brain

Our eyes are like the main gateway to the brain that brings information. The things we see, the things we read, the faces we recognize, all of these are like exercises for the brain. When we can't see properly, the amount of information the brain receives decreases. That means the brain receives less stimulation. Just as the body weakens when it doesn't exercise, when stimulation decreases, brain function can also gradually decrease.

3. Common changes that occur in the brain

Some scientists believe that certain physical changes in the brain (such as changes in blood vessels) can affect both vision and memory. However, the two factors mentioned earlier, social isolation and lack of stimulation, are very important because they are things we can control.

So what do we do? Are there any simple solutions?

The best message we get from this research is that there are simple things we can do to reduce this risk.

• Using the right pair of glasses: This is the simplest and most important thing. Using the two glasses recommended by the doctor correctly will not only make your life easier, but it will also be a great help for your brain health. Don't think of it as "boring", use it.
• Cataract Surgery: As people age, cataracts become a common condition that causes blurred vision. This surgery is very successful. After this surgery, the world becomes clearer again. It increases the stimulation received by the brain and can also help reduce the risk of dementia.
• Regular eye exams: It is very important for everyone, especially those over the age of 40-50, to have their eyes checked at least once a year . Then, if there is a problem, it can be identified and treated quickly.
• Caring for the elderly: If an elderly person in your home is suffering from vision problems, don't ignore them. Refer them to a doctor and help them get the necessary treatment. It may be difficult for someone who already has symptoms of dementia to hold their glasses properly or to get them to agree to surgery. But it's worth being patient, talking to your family doctor , and doing what's necessary.

This research doesn't say that wearing glasses prevents dementia. But it does suggest that maintaining good eyesight is an important step in reducing the risk of dementia. It's like eating well and exercising.