Can Your Vision Predict Your Dementia Risk? Research Suggests It Can
A thinning retina may point to memory troubles before symptoms even begin
While there are tests or brain imaging available to detect dementia, scientists and doctors are always looking for new ways to catch—and manage—the condition in early stages before advanced confusion and memory problems set in. And a new study recently found that the thinning of the retina (visible on specialized scans) may be linked to cognitive decline. In other words, your vision can predict your dementia risk. This discovery could open the door to earlier, simpler screening tools that help identify at-risk individuals long before symptoms appear. Keep reading to learn more about the study and the connection between eye health and cognition.
Can your vision predict dementia? Science says yes
New research has found that the blood vessels at the back of your eye can help doctors detect early signs of dementia. Moreover, thinning in a person’s retina in middle age can be linked to cognitive decline later in life.
This information follows an original trial three years ago, in which researchers from the University of Otago in New Zealand mainly examined links between cognitive decline and retinal layer thickness, since the retina is directly connected to the brain. Additionally, a separate 2018 study revealed that those with the thinnest retinal nerve fiber layers had double the risk of mild cognitive problems and were twice as likely to develop cognitive decline within the following three years.
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What the study results say about vision and dementia
The most recent study, published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, examined data from 938 participants aged 45, including retinal photographs, eye scans and an array of tests that determine midlife risk of Alzheimer’s and related dementias.
For those involved in the study, their retinal health was a predictor of their risk of developing dementia. That’s because degenerative changes that occur during dementia can also affect the retina and optic nerve. These types of advanced eye tests showed that dementia risk scores were typically higher among those with slimmer arterioles (tiny vessels that carry blood away from the heart) and larger venules (miniature veins that receive blood from capillaries).
While the study elicits positive results for potential dementia testing, it’s not quite ready for use by the general public just yet. “No one can currently go to their eye doctor and ask for this kind of non-invasive diagnostic test to be screened for dementia,” explains Hunter Cherwek, MD, global ophthalmologist and the vice president of clinical services and technologies at Orbis International, a nonprofit organization. However, he hopes it will be a reality in the future.
Can other vision problems signal dementia?
“Certain types of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s or Lewy body dementia, can impair the brain’s ability to process visual information despite the eyes and optical nerve being healthy,” says Brynna Connor, MD, Healthcare Ambassador at NorthWestPharmacy.com. This helps differentiate dementia-related vision problems from common age-related eye issues.
She adds that people suffering from vision problems related to dementia may have trouble judging distances, recognizing faces (known as face blindness), reading or knowing where they are, as the parts of the brain that handle visual processing aren’t functioning correctly.
It’s important to note that these types and symptoms of vision problems aren’t enough to diagnose dementia independently. Other causes of vision issues may include eye diseases, side effects from medication or regular aging and not necessarily indicate an increased risk of dementia.
How to detect other eye health concerns
Concerned about your vision as it relates to other health concerns? The good news is that Dr. Cherwek says simple, non-invasive retina scans, like one of the types used in the study, are available at your eye doctor’s office.
“With these scans, your eye doctor can detect signs of other significant diseases such as diabetes and diabetic eye diseases, glaucoma and macular degeneration, conditions that can lead to vision loss or blindness if not detected and treated early,” he adds.
He emphasizes the importance of regular eye exams to catch underlying healthy conditions and vision issues before they become irreversible. Also, research suggests that “treatment for these vision problems can slow the rate of cognitive decline among elderly patients.”
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