by the University of Michigan
ANN ARBOR, Michigan.— Elderly people with visual disorders that are left untreated are nine times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease — the most common form of dementia – compared to those who take care of their eyes with preventative measures.
A University of Michigan Health System study shows those with poor vision who visited an ophthalmologist at least once for a general vision screening and treatment, were 64 percent less likely to develop dementia-related symptoms.
The study appears online ahead of print in the American Journal of Epidemiology and may draw a new picture of poor vision as a cause of dementia rather than as a symptom.
“Visual problems can have serious consequences and are very common among the elderly, but many of them are not seeking treatment,” says lead author Mary A.M. Rogers, Ph.D, research assistant professor of internal medicine at the U-M Medical School and research director of the Patient Safety Enhancement Program at the U-M Health System and the Ann Arbor VA Medical Center.
For the study, Rogers and her colleague Kenneth M. Langa, M.D., Ph.D., professor of internal medicine at U-M and researcher at the Veterans Affairs Center for Practice Management and Outcomes Research and Institute for Social Research analyzed data from the federal Health and Retirement Study and the Aging, Demographics, and Memory Study.
”Our results indicate that it is important for elderly individuals with visual problems to seek medical attention so that the causes of the problems can be identified and treated,” Rogers says.
The most common types of vision treatment that are helpful for delaying a dementia diagnosis are surgery to correct cataracts and treatments for glaucoma and retinal disorders. In addition to these procedures, regular eye examinations performed by an ophthalmologist are important in 1helping to delay the onset of dementia.
Along with proper vision care, exercise and mental stimulation, such as reading and playing board games, are usually associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. But a visual disorder may interfere with normal mobility and can also hinder a person’s ability to participate in such activities.
“Many elderly Americans do not have adequate health coverage for vision, and Medicare does not cover preventative vision screenings,” Rogers says.
“So the elderly generally receive vision treatment only after a problem is severe enough to warrant a visit to the doctor. But by that time, the damage could be too great to fix.”
According to a survey conducted by the National Eye Health Education Program, less than 11 percent of respondents understood that there are no early warning signs for eye problems such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy.
However, similar vision problems and blindness are among the top disabilities among adults and can result in a greater tendency to experience other health conditions or even to die prematurely.
“While heart disease and cancer death rates are continuing to decline, mortality rates for Alzheimer’s disease are on the rise,” says Rogers. “So if we can delay the onset of dementia, we can save individuals and their families from the burden, cost and stress that are common with Alzheimer’s disease.”
The study was based on the surveys of 625 people compiled over 14 years. Only 10 percent of those surveyed who developed dementia had excellent vision at the beginning of the study compared to 30 percent of those starting with excellent vision who did not develop dementia.
Approximately 5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease and the number has doubled since 1980. It is expected to be as high as 13 million by 2050. One in five Americans who are over age 50 report experiencing a visual impairment, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
