Research

Old-Age Vision Problems Linked to Dementia

Untreated vision problems in older age are associated with an increased risk of decline in cognitive function and Alzheimer’s disease, data from a cohort study showed.


Uncorrected poor vision was associated with a five- to 10-fold greater risk of Alzheimer’s disease and a five-fold greater risk of cognitive decline without dementia, compared with older people who had very good or excellent vision.


Three-fourths of 90-year-olds with normal cognition had a history of at least one eye procedure compared with half of those with Alzheimer’s disease, according to an article published online in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

Publication date

March 19, 2015

Publication

American Journal of Epidemiology

Authors

Zalman S. Agus, MD
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