Visual Impairment in Older Women Linked to Increased Risk of Dementia

A secondary analysis published in JAMA Ophthalmology found that visual impairment may increase older women's risk for dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI), reports the U.S. National Institute on Aging . The researchers examined data on 1,061 community-dwelling older women, 66 to 84 years, enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) Sight Examination and WHI Memory Study. They quantified visual impairment at three thresholds — worse than 20/40, 20/80, or 20/100 — and measured self-reported survey responses about vision impairment. Of all the enrollees, 183 women had objective vision impairment and 206 women exhibited self-reported vision impairment. The risk of dementia and MCI was higher among women with vision impairment than those without, with more severe visual impairment associated with a greater risk of cognitive impairment. The highest risk for dementia was among women with vision impairment of 20/100 or worse at baseline, followed by 20/80 or worse, and 20/40 or worse. No association between self-reported visual impairment and an increase in dementia risk was observed.