​Addition of Vision Impairment to a Life-Course Model of Potentially Modifiable Dementia Risk Factors in the US

A study led by Joshua R. Ehrlich and colleagues, published in JAMA Neurology, investigated the potential link between visual impairments and the risk of developing dementia. The research analyzed data from 16,690 individuals aged 50 and older in the United States, focusing on 12 risk factors for dementia, including visual impairments, hearing loss, head injuries, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, alcohol use, smoking, depression, physical inactivity, social isolation, and lower educational attainment. The findings revealed that visual impairments accounted for 1.8% of the population attributable fraction for dementia. This suggests that addressing and treating visual impairments, many of which are manageable, could potentially prevent up to 10,000 dementia cases. The study underscores the importance of integrating vision care into strategies aimed at reducing dementia risk.