New Research: Vision Impairment And High Cholesterol As Factors In Dementia
Dementia: Professor Livingston states that vision loss limits people’s lives, causing them to go out less, become more isolated, and have fewer new experiences.
Recent research indicates that treating vision impairment and high cholesterol are two new ways to reduce the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists have now identified 14 conditions that, theoretically, could prevent nearly half of dementia cases if addressed.
According to the latest report from the “Lancet Commission,” one of the most reputable medical journals, targeting these conditions in middle-aged individuals and in poorer countries would provide the most benefits. It is predicted that the number of dementia cases will more than double by 2050, reaching approximately 153 million people.
According to BBC World Service, dementia occurs when a disease such as Alzheimer‘s damages brain cells, leading to confusion and memory loss. However, it is important to note that this is not an inevitable part of aging. The majority of dementia cases are due to factors beyond our control, such as genes inherited from our parents or grandparents. However, experts state that about 45% of risk factors are modifiable and can be reduced.
Vision Impairment And High Cholesterol As Factors In Dementia
Professor Gill Livingston, the lead author from University College London, says, “It’s never too early or too late to act. Governments should reduce inequality in risk factors by making healthy lifestyles more accessible for everyone.” Researchers have provided a list of recommendations that countries around the world should focus on:
- Providing hearing aids for the hearing impaired
- Ensuring high-quality education for everyone
- Supporting individuals to quit smoking
- Encouraging physical activity and exercise
- Reducing high blood pressure from the age of 40
- Treating high cholesterol from middle age
- Addressing obesity early in life
- Reducing alcohol misuse
- Ensuring people are not isolated or lonely
- Screening for vision problems and providing glasses to those in need
Reducing Exposure To Air Pollution
Some risk factors are more significant, with vision loss and high cholesterol each contributing 7% to predictable dementia cases. Lack of education in early life only disrupts the balance, while in adulthood, social isolation and vision impairment are major risk factors.
Some experts are more cautious about the results. Professor Tara Spires-Jones, director of the Center for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, states that this type of research does not show a direct and definitive link between risk factors and dementia. However, it confirms much evidence that suggests a healthy lifestyle enhances brain resilience and prevents dementia.
Professor Charles Marshall from Queen Mary University of London adds that this does not mean that choosing a healthy lifestyle can prevent dementia, as most risk factors for dementia are beyond people’s control. Many view dementia as something that will occur in the future, but it is not exclusive to aging.
How Does Vision Loss Lead To Dementia?
Scientists still do not know the exact reason, but many suggest that in older age, it may cause brain shrinkage, as the brain no longer needs to process various visual aspects. Professor Livingston explains that vision loss limits people’s lives, causing them to go out less, become more isolated, and have fewer new experiences.
Vision impairment is treatable in many healthcare systems, such as the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK, but it is a significant problem in low-income countries without similar systems.
There are some encouraging points, and despite people living longer, the incidence of dementia in high-income countries has decreased, apparently due to lifestyle changes such as reduced smoking.
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