Undergoing cataract removal was associated with a lower risk of developing dementia among older adults, according to a new study, supported in part by NIA.
Published in JAMA Internal Medicine on Dec. 6, 2021, the study suggests that the improvement in the quality of life for the affected individual and family is likely considerable given the substantial association and its lasting effect beyond 10 years.
Dementia affects nearly 50 million people worldwide. With no cure currently, efforts to reduce the risk or delay dementia onset are increasingly important. Several studies suggest sensory loss may be a potentially modifiable risk factor for dementia later in life. The prevalence of hearing (1 out of 3) and vision impairment (1 out of 5) in adults age 70 or older in the United States is high.
Because sensory impairment and dementia are both strongly associated with aging, more knowledge about the association may have important implications for adults as they age, particularly if interventions to improve sensory function reduce dementia risk.
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Researchers found that participants who underwent cataract removal surgery had nearly 30% lower risk of developing dementia compared with participants without surgery, even after controlling for numerous additional demographic and health risks.
