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Struggling with cataracts? Removing these cloudy lenses in the attention can do greater than just improve your vision. A study published online Dec. 6, 2021, by JAMA Internal Medicine A link was found between cataract removal and a reduced risk of dementia. Researchers followed greater than 3,000 dementia-free older adults (those that had cataracts or glaucoma) for nearly 24 years. During the study period, individuals who had cataract extractions had a 29 percent lower risk of developing dementia than those that didn’t. The risk of dementia didn’t change in individuals who did or didn’t have glaucoma surgery (which doesn’t restore vision). The study was observational and didn’t conclusively prove that cataract removal protects cognition. However, the researchers note that some evidence suggests that impaired senses (equivalent to poor vision) result in social isolation and decreased brain stimulation, that are risk aspects for dementia. Scientists also hypothesize that vision impairment may prevent people from exercising, and inactivity is one other risk factor for dementia.
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