Cataracts May Increase the Risk of Dementia

Emerging research is finding links between dementia and eye conditions like poor vision, nearsightedness, and cataracts, but the nature of their association remains unclear. A new study published in JAMA Network Open on Tuesday found that beyond an association, there is a possible causal relationship between the two conditions. Specifically, researchers found that cataracts may close to double the risk of vascular dementia. They also discovered possible brain pathways linking the two. Cataracts occur when the lens in the eye gets cloudy, obstructing vision. Willa Brenowitz, the study’s senior author and an assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of California (UC)–San Francisco, told The Epoch Times that the study provides some of the most substantial evidence to date that cataracts are a risk factor for dementia. However, well-designed randomized, controlled trials are needed to prove causation....