31 Jul 2024 • Cataracts could nearly double the risk of vascular dementia, according to a UK Biobank study of 304,953 individuals with an average age of 62.

• Those with cataracts had an 18% increased risk of Alzheimer’s and related dementias (ADRD), with a notable link to vascular dementia (odds ratio of 1.92) but not overall dementia (odds ratio of 1.21).

• Myopia was associated with a 35% higher ADRD risk, though no direct link to dementia was found.

• Poor visual acuity and diabetic retinopathy also raised dementia risk.

• Genetic predispositions to cataracts were linked to reduced brain volume, suggesting that declining vision and vascular mechanisms may contribute to cognitive decline and brain shrinkage.

Source:JAMA| Read full story