Vision Loss Associated With Anxiety and Depression in Older Adults

Results from the U.S. National Health and Aging Trends Study published in JAMA Ophthalmology demonstrated that older adults who suffer from vision loss may be at a higher risk of anxiety and depression, reports Bel Marra Health . In addition, seniors who exhibit signs of mood disorders have an increased risk of vision impairment. The researchers analyzed data from more than 75,000 older men and women, and learned that 31 percent of persons with impaired vision reported symptoms of depression, compared to 13 percent of those without vision problems. Those with anxiety symptoms had similar outcomes. Twenty-seven percent of participants who experienced anxiety also reported vision problems, compared to 11 percent of those without it. Over 40 percent of participants with impaired vision had suffered anxiety or depression, compared to 19 percent of those lacking poor vision. Moreover, those with impaired vision were 33 percent more likely than those without it to report new depression symptoms over time, but this was not borne out for symptoms of anxiety.