REGULAR eye tests may help predict our risk of developing dementia, researchers from Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) have found.
Led by Dr Nikki-Anne Wilson, the research looked at the effect of changes to eyesight on cognition over a 12-year period and found a link between visual acuity and cognitive performance across multiple domains.
"We show for the first time that the relationship between a decline in vision and global cognitive performance may be partly explained by reduced social contact," Dr Wilson said.
"People experiencing poorer vision may be more likely to avoid social events due to anxiety and this too may impact their cognitive performance."
Uncorrected vision loss was recently included as one of 14 key modifiable dementia risk factors by The Lancet Commission.
"A decline in vision can be caused by a range of factors, some of which are treatable," Dr Wilson said.
"What the research is now showing is that identifying these changes early and addressing them may help reduce the risk of developing dementia."
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