Vision impairment is strongly linked to a higher risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. This connection is due to how vision loss affects brain health, mental stimulation, and social interaction.
Visual processing areas in the brain can overlap with regions affected by dementia. Vision impairment can signal early neurodegeneration in these shared areas, suggesting a common underlying pathology.
In addition, vision loss limits activities like reading, puzzles, and social interaction, which are essential for keeping the brain active. Lack of mental stimulation accelerates cognitive decline and increases dementia risk.
To read about more connections between vision and dementia risks, from a story by AARP, CLICK HERE.