Skip to content
Medical Health Aged Care

Vision screening vital: new research find vision decline predicts cognitive decline

Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) 3 mins read
  • Researchers from NeuRA found vision deterioration significantly predicted multi-domain cognitive decline.

  • This research highlights the importance of regular eye tests and maintaining good vision to reduce dementia risk.

  • Staying socially active could help lessen the negative effects that declining vision has on cognitive health.

 

Regular eye tests may help predict our risk of developing dementia, researchers from Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) have found.

Dementia rates are rapidly increasing in Australia and globally, with vision problems contributing to an estimated 4.7% of the burden. NeuRA Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Cognitive Health, Dr Nikki-Anne Wilson, led the research that examined the effect of changes to eyesight in adults over a 12-year period.

“While people are encouraged to get regular eye tests, this research highlights that vision checks are important from a cognitive perspective as well,” Dr Wilson said.

“It is normal for some loss of visual acuity to occur with age, which refers to how clearly objects can be seen from a distance. However, just as we are advised to get our blood pressure checked, we should also be getting our eyes checked too.”

The PATH through life study examined deterioration in vision and cognitive decline over a 12-year period.

“The relationship between visual acuity and cognitive performance was evident across multiple cognitive domains,” Dr Wilson said, highlighting the importance of maintaining good vision for overall cognitive health.

Vision loss a dementia risk factor

Uncorrected vision loss was recently included as one of 14 key modifiable dementia risk factors by The Lancet Commission.

“A decline in vision can be caused by a range of factors, some of which are treatable. For example, cataracts, or vision decline that can be supported with the correct glasses,” Dr Wilson said.

“What the research is now showing is that identifying these changes early and addressing them may help reduce the risk of developing dementia.”

How does vision contribute to dementia risk?

“We know that the protein associated with Alzheimer’s disease can be found in both the brain and the retina,” Dr Wilson said.

“Neuroimaging findings also indicate that visual impairment results in brain changes both within and beyond parts of the brain which process vision.”

But it is important to also consider the impact that a decline in vision may have on broader psychosocial factors.

“We show for the first time that the relationship between a decline in vision and global cognitive performance may be partly explained by reduced social contact,” Dr Wilson said.

“People experiencing poorer vision may be more likely to avoid social events due to anxiety and this too may impact their cognitive performance. Our findings indicate the importance of maintaining social contact, not only because social isolation is a risk factor for dementia itself but also because it might also help to reduce the impact of other risk factors, such as poorer vision. However, further work is needed."

Easy as implementing current eye tests

Past studies looking at vision and cognitive health have often relied on self-reported visual impairment, which can be unreliable.

“One of the strengths of my study is that we used the standard Snellen chart, available in every doctor’s office, to measure visual acuity,” Dr Wilson said.

“This easily available measure can be included as part of an overall clinical approach to supporting brain health in older adults. However, we need to ensure equitable access to treatment.

“We know that there are currently considerable difficulties for many people in accessing appropriate assessment and treatment of eye health. Addressing this will be important as we continue to learn more about the association between vision and dementia risk.”

You can read the paper in Aging and Mental Health here:  https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13607863.2024.2430529


About us:

Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) is an independent, not-for-profit research institute based in Sydney aiming to prevent, treat and cure brain and nervous system diseases, disorders and injuries through medical research. To learn more about NeuRA: www.neura.edu.au


Contact details:

Beatrix Kates
Communications Director
0421 320 769
b.kates@neura.edu.au

 

Katana Smith
Senior Media and PR Advisor
0452 140 477
katana.smith@neura.edu.au

Media

More from this category

  • Biotechnology, Medical Health Aged Care
  • 09/12/2024
  • 15:45
Jane Morgan Management

NEXSEN Biotech Announces Pre-IPO Fundraising to Revolutionise Point-of-Care Diagnostics

Sydney, Australia – 9December, 2024 |NEXSEN Biotech Pty Ltd (“NEXSEN”), a pioneering diagnostics company, is excited to announce the launch of its pre-IPO fundraising round, targeting $2 million to $3 million. With a mission to improve global health outcomes, NEXSEN is set to deliver cutting-edge point-of-care diagnostic solutions that address critical unmet medical needs. At the heart of NEXSEN's innovation is StrepSure®, the world's first rapid diagnostic test for Group B Streptococcus (“GBS”). This revolutionary technology leverages advanced nanoparticle engineering and aptamer discovery, ensuring quick, accurate, and cost-effective diagnosis at the point of care. StrepSure® is poised to make life-saving…

  • Government Federal, Medical Health Aged Care
  • 09/12/2024
  • 12:14
Catholic Health Australia

CHA backs AMA push for greater access to out-of-hospital care

Catholic Health Australia supports the Australian Medical Association’s call for greater access to out-of-hospital care for patients, outlined in its position paper released today. “We have been calling for reform to out-of-hospital care for the past year and are pleased to see the sector unite around this issue,” said Catholic Health Australia CEO Jason Kara. “Treatments like chemotherapy, dialysis, wound care, palliative care and post-surgical rehab can be conducted safely at home with better outcomes - but millions of patients are missing out. “We urgently need reforms that allow patients and their doctors to choose where they receive their care,…

  • Medical Health Aged Care
  • 09/12/2024
  • 10:55
Monash University

Monash Expert: Australia’s growing arthritis burden

The number of people living with arthritis in Australia is projected to increase by a third by 2040, suggests a modelling study, published in The Lancet Rheumatology. The model projects about 5.4 million Australians will have arthritis in 2040, 1.3 million (31 per cent) more than the estimated number of cases for 2025. Annual health system spending on osteoarthritis – the most common type of arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis, the most common type of inflammatory arthritis – is forecast to exceed AUD $11.9 billion by 2040, if current spending levels continue, estimated at AUD $2,100 per person with osteoarthritis and…

Media Outreach made fast, easy, simple.

Feature your press release on Medianet's News Hub every time you distribute with Medianet. Pay per release or save with a subscription.