Dementia is a big concern as people get older. It makes remembering things and thinking harder. In recent studies, it has been found that women who have problems with their vision are more likely to develop dementia or have memory and thinking problems. We should examine why and what we can do about this.
According to research work, women with vision problems, especially those who can't see well without glasses or contacts, are more likely to develop dementia. Vision problems don't just affect anyone; they affect people with severe vision problems, like vision in the 20/100 range or worse. Surprisingly, just saying you have trouble seeing doesn't seem to tell us much about the risk of dementia.
The risk of dementia is higher when people have specific eye problems like age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts, and eye issues related to diabetes. But if you have glaucoma, it's not directly linked to Alzheimer's, though it might mean you're more likely to get a different kind of dementia called vascular dementia.
Stress is another factor that needs to be considered. Women are often overburdened with responsibilities at home and work, which can lead to stress. A high cortisol level, a hormone our bodies produce when stressed, can cause problems with blood flow from our eyes to our brains, worsening vision problems. It can even lead to a condition called stress-related macular degeneration, which is another way that stress harms them.
What's interesting is that the signs of vision problems often look a lot like the early signs of dementia, especially Alzheimer's disease. Both vision problems and dementia are characterized by difficulty in recognizing faces, getting lost easily, forgetting things, and being sensitive to light. Stress makes our bodies produce more adrenaline, which makes our pupils expand to let in more light. However, constantly being stressed can cause our pupils to remain significant for a long period, making us more sensitive to light and worsening our vision problems.
We also have some internal things happening in our bodies that can affect our vision and risk of dementia. High blood pressure, which can come from being stressed often, can make it harder for our brains and eyes to get enough oxygen, worsening vision problems. Doing some deep breathing exercises when we are feeling stressed can help calm us down and ensure that all our important organs, including our eyes and brains, are getting enough oxygen.
Reports suggest that having babies seems to increase a woman's risk of dementia as she ages. Some studies suggest that women who have longer reproductive years are more likely to have dementia later in life compared to women who can have babies for a shorter time.
We can address these issues by taking specific measures. For example, it is important to get regular check-ups with an eye doctor to catch any vision problems at an earlier stage. If you are stressed a lot, finding ways to relax, like doing yoga or walking, can help. If you notice any signs of dementia, like having trouble remembering things or getting lost often, it's essential to talk to a doctor immediately.
Understanding how vision problems and dementia are connected can help us better care for our eyes and brains. By managing stress and paying attention to any changes in our memory or thinking skills, we can help protect ourselves from dementia and live healthier lives as we get older.
The author is Director, Dr Basu Eye Hospital
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