The connection between your eye health and dementia

A number of studies have found that recognizing and treating vision loss in older adults may decrease their risk of dementia. A 2021 study in BMC Ophthalmology also reported that certain eye diseases were associated with an increased risk of dementia. These eye diseases include AMD, diabetic eye disease and cataracts.

What risk factors do eye disease and dementia have in common?

Older age is an important and common risk factor for eye disease and dementia. The older that someone gets, the higher the likelihood that they will experience vision impairment. Older age is also a significant risk factor for dementia. Simply getting older places an individual at higher risk of both vision impairment and dementia.

Vision impairment in older people can be caused by normal eye aging, eye disease, or a health condition (such as stroke). Dementia can itself also cause changes in vision. In fact, several studies, in addition to this one, have shown that vision impairment and dementia have a clear link.