Is Vision Linked to Dementia? New Study Finds: 30% Lower Dementia Risk After Cataract Surgery!

Dementia affects nearly 50 million people worldwide, and there are currently no effective treatments to alter the course of the disease

Research suggests that visual impairment may be an important risk factor for dementia, with cataracts affecting most older adults at risk for dementia

Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide, affecting more than 35 million people worldwide and causing approximately 20 million blindness

Visual function is very important for older adults

A recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine noted that cataract surgery was associated with a nearly 30 percent lower risk of dementia

Screenshot source: JAMA Internal Medicine

The observational study included a total of 3038 participants with a mean age of 74.

The participants were diagnosed with cataracts or glaucoma, but not dementia

The researchers assessed participants' cognitive abilities through a cognitive ability screening, with scores ranging from 0-100

Participants with scores below 85 underwent further neurological testing

After an average of 7.

After adjusting for years of education, smoking history, stratification by APOE e genotype (a gene associated with Alzheimer's disease risk), sex, and age at cataract diagnosis

The researchers found that compared to participants who did not undergo cataract surgery, any participant who underwent surgery on one eye had a 30% lower risk of developing dementia of any cause at least 10 years after surgery (RR=0.

The researchers found similar results after adjusting for multiple potential confounding factors, such as eye surgery within two years before dementia diagnosis

However, compared with cataract surgery, having glaucoma surgery (which does not restore vision) was not significantly associated with dementia risk

In addition, the researchers found that when the associations between cataract surgery, education level, smoking history, gender, and APOE genotype and dementia risk were considered, the only factor that was more protective than cataract surgery was the absence of the APOE e4 allele (Alzheimer's disease high-risk genes)

"The study adjusted for some confounders but still found cataracts," said the study's first author, Dr.
Cecilia Slee, associate professor of ophthalmology at the University of Washington School of Medicine.
Surgery is strongly associated with dementia risk
.
"

The researchers analyzed the mechanisms by which cataract surgery and reduced risk of dementia are involved
.
First, after cataract surgery, people can receive higher-quality sensory input, which may be beneficial in reducing the risk of dementia
.

Second, cataract surgery can reactivate cells that sense blue light
.
While people are exposed to more blue light, this may also help regulate sleep cycles and cognitive function
.

Finally, visual impairment may lead to psychosocial difficulties, withdrawal from social interactions, and reduced activity or exercise, all of which may be associated with cognitive decline
.

The study also has limitations, the team said
.
For example, only participants' first cataract surgery was assessed, so it is uncertain whether subsequent surgeries affected dementia risk
.

This article concludes and states: The results of this study showed that cataract surgery was significantly associated with a reduced risk of dementia in adults ≥65 years of age
.

This result has important implications for the care of older adults and can largely improve the quality of life of individuals and their families
.

These results also provide strong evidence, insights and potential treatments for further research into the relationship between dementia and other retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration to slow or prevent age-related dementia
.