Just In
- 4 hrs ago Heeramandi Screening: Alia Bhatt, Ananya Panday, Rashmika Mandanna And Others Serve Finest Ethnic Style!
- 5 hrs ago From Alia Bhatt To Kriti Sanon, Korean Beauty Products That Bollywood Divas Swear By
- 8 hrs ago Exclusive: On World Malaria Day 2024, Dr Shares Danger Signs Parents Must Watch Out For In Child With Malaria
- 8 hrs ago Exclusive: Expert Debunks 5 Common Misconceptions About Expectant Mothers That You Need To Steer Clear From
Don't Miss
- Sports Pakistan vs New Zealand: Who Can Replace Mohammad Rizwan, Irfan Khan in PAK Squad?
- Movies Uorfi Javed Gets Trolled For Posing In Semi-n*de Clothes, Internet Asks To Do ‘High Five', Here's Why
- News Kharge's Sharp Retort To PM Modi: Correcting Misinformation On Congress Manifesto 2024
- Finance Multibagger Energy Stock To Reward Shareholders With 3 Bonus Shares, Hits 52-Week High
- Automobiles Royal Enfield Unveils Revolutionary Rentals & Tours Service: Check Out All Details Here
- Technology Elon Musk’s X Is Launching a TV App Similar to YouTube for Watching Videos
- Education AICTE introduces career portal for 3 million students, offering fully-sponsored trip to Silicon Valley
- Travel Escape to Kalimpong, Gangtok, and Darjeeling with IRCTC's Tour Package; Check Itinerary
How Are Common Eye Diseases Related To Increased Risk Of Dementia?
According to a new study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, some common eye diseases like age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetes-related eye disease (DRED) and cataracts can be independently linked to increased risk of dementia.
Dementia is a general term for memory loss and impaired ability of language, thinking, decision-making and problem-solving that may affect the day-to-day activities of a person. Alzheimer's is a common type of dementia.
In this article, we will discuss how common eye diseases can lead to an increased risk of memory loss or dementia. Take a look.
Is Hypertension Linked To Erectile Dysfunction?
How Are Common Eye Diseases And Dementia Linked?
According to the aforementioned study, vision problems such as AMD, DRED and cataracts could be one of the first symptoms of the development of dementia or cognitive impairment.
The risk of dementia is 61 per cent higher in individuals with diabetes-related eye conditions, 26 per cent higher for macular degeneration conditions and 11 per cent higher for people with cataracts, compared to individuals who do not have any eye conditions.
The risk of dementia extends in people who have both the conditions: eye diseases and systemic conditions like diabetes, depression, obesity, hypertension and blood-related infection.
From Weight Loss To Good Memory, Everything You Should Know About A Sattvic Diet
People with two different eye diseases (like AMD and DRED together) are at higher risk of dementia compared to people with one eye condition.
Also, those who have two eye diseases along with two systemic conditions (like diabetes and obesity together) are three times at risk of dementia.
These findings say that people (especially middle-aged and older people) with any eye conditions and people with systemic conditions must opt for frequent screening of their conditions so that the risk of dementia can be prevented up to a certain extent. [1]
How Eye Diseases Cause Dementia
Some studies say that deposition of amyloid-beta was found in people with age-related macular degeneration, compared to those without the condition. Amyloid-beta is a protein that helps in the brain's neural growth and repair, however, with age, they break down and form plaques that disrupt the passage of signals between neurons and thus, cause memory loss. [2]
Another reason is, when there is an eye condition such as cataracts or diabetes-eye conditions, the sensory neurons that are responsible for receiving the visual information from the eyes and sending it to the brain, get less activated due to poor or no visual input. This increases the cognitive load and may cause damage to the brain structure, thus leading to the risk of dementia.
Can People With Diabetes Include Pineapple In Their Diet?
Symptoms Of Dementia-Related Eye Diseases
Some of the significant changes noticed during dementia-related eye diseases i.e AMD, DRED and cataracts are: [3]
- Blurred vision
- Peripheral vision
- Problems in object recognition
- Problems to detect movement.
- Reduced gaze
- Trouble in reading
- Poor adjustment to light
- Poor colour discrimination.
Don't Throw Away The Peel Of These Fruits And Vegetables, They Have Benefits And Other Uses Too
Diagnosis
Some of the diagnostic methods to detect the risk of dementia in the eyes are:
- Retinal imaging: It is a potential marker for memory loss. Retinal imaging includes high-resolution imaging methods like optical coherence tomography (OCT) and confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (SLO). These methods help get clear three-dimensional pictures of the back of the eyes and detect eye problems related to dementia. [4]
- Laser Doppler imaging device: The device helps show the difference in blood flow in retinal veins of people with dementia and healthy adults. [5]
- Positron emission tomography (PET) scans: It helps detect the deposition of amyloid-beta within the retinal tissues as an early sign of dementia. [6]
Treatment And Management
Experts say that there is no effective treatment method to stop or completely reduce the progression of dementia in people with eye conditions, however, by identifying the possible risk factors, the risk of dementia in them can be prevented to a certain extent. They include:
- Losing weight
- Managing diabetes and heart diseases properly with diet and exercise, if any.
- With recommended vision correction methods or surgery, the vision can be corrected, and the risk of dementia can be delayed.
- Medications to manage systemic conditions like diabetes and hypertension so that the risk of dementia can be lowered.
- Regular screenings of the eyes for early diagnosis of dementia.
Papaya 101: Everything You Need To Know About The Fruit
To Conclude
Age-related eye conditions and dementia are common, however, when you have early onset of eye diseases, the risk of dementia may become high. If an eye disease is followed by certain systemic conditions like diabetes and heart diseases, the risk of dementia may also double.
Experts suggest that one should first reduce the risk of eye diseases, and in case it occurs, one should take measures to reduce the risk of diabetes or hypertension or other chronic diseases to delay or prevent dementia risk.
- Can eyesight cause dementia?
Yes, certain eye conditions like age-related macular degeneration, diabetes-related eye diseases and cataracts can lead to an increased risk of dementia later in life. Also, if these conditions are followed by systemic conditions like diabetes or hypertension, the risk may get doubled.
- Does macular cause dementia?
Age-related macular degeneration diseases may cause dementia, but the risk may not be high compared to macular and other diseases like diabetes. Also, macular and dementia are common in older people.
- What are the three risk factors associated with dementia?
According to a study published in the journal British Journal of Ophthalmology, the three main risk factors associated with dementia are obesity, depression and hypertension, along with diabetes and stroke.
- wellnessPioneering Low-Cost Device That Can Take 3-D Images To Detect Eye Diseases: UK Scientists
- prenatal11 Vitamin A Rich Foods For Pregnant Women
- pregnancy parentingActor Bruce Willis Is Not \"Totally Verbal\" Amid Dementia Battle: How To Care For Older Parents?
- healthDementia Diet: Three Diets That May Help Slow Down Dementia Risk
- healthWorkout Your Way Through Alzheimers: The Power of Fitness Routines
- healthWorld Alzheimer's Day 2023: Tongue Exercises To Reduce Risk Of Developing Dementia And Alzheimer's
- healthWorld Alzheimer's Day 2023: FAQs On Date, Theme, History, Significance And More
- healthWorld Alzheimer's Day 2023: What Are The 7 Alzheimer's Disease Warning Signs? Details Inside
- healthDiscover the Power of Indian Superfoods in Fighting Alzheimer's Disease!
- healthSupporting Parents With Dementia: Tips
- healthWhat Happens To Your Brain In Alzheimer's Disease?
- healthReduce Dementia Risk Naturally: Add These Foods Into Your Diet