Bad eyesight sign of dementia risk: study

New analysis conducted by researchers suggests older adults who require glasses are at higher risk of dementia.

A team from Stanford University made the connection by analysing two independent sets of data that showed a significant link between vision loss and cognitive function decline, according to a report by the Daily Mail.

Researchers analysed the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between the years 1999 to 2002, and the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) between 2011 to 2015. The surveys studied the association of visual impairment with cognition in older adults.

2,975 participants aged 60 and older participated in NHANES. 30,202 participated in NHATS aged 65 years and older with dementia status assessment. In both government-backed studies they found the "first evidence" of the link, even after the team took in other factors like demographics and health.

Researchers still cannot determine the cause of the link, as their study was only observational. But they suspect the symptoms could "go hand-in-hand" as both commonly occur in older adults. "Further research is warranted to better understand... relationships between visual and cognitive decline, lead author Dr Suzann Pershing told the Daily Mail.

The revolutionary findings could lead to earlier screenings for symptoms related to dementia.