Eyesight problems may signal cognitive changes in older adults

A worsening of vision problems among older adults can indicate a potential decline in cognitive function, says a new study.

Worsening vision in older adults may highlight problems with future cognitive functioning, says a new study done by the University of Miami. The findings also suggest that maintaining good vision through prevention and treatment of vision disorders may be a strategy to lessen age-related cognitive changes.

Maintaining good vision through prevention and treatment of vision disorders may be a strategy to lessen age-related cognitive changes. (Shutterstock)

For the study, published in the journal JAMA Ophthalmology, researchers evaluated the longitudinal associations between visual impairment and cognitive function.

It found that visual impairment measured at a distance is associated with declining cognitive function both cross-sectionally and longitudinally over time with worsening vision having a stronger association with declining cognition than the reverse, said co-author D Diane Zheng from the University of Miami.

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