Can These 3 Eye Diseases PREDICT Dementia Risk?
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted January 9, 2022
Dear Living Well Daily Reader,
I’m old enough to remember a time when the only way to know whether someone had Alzheimer’s disease was to perform an autopsy.
And in truth, it wasn’t that long ago.
Today we have all sorts of ways to tell whether you have Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, including PET and CT scans, as well as MRI.
Yet even with all of these advances, it’s STILL difficult to detect the early stages of this disease.
That is, until now.
Researchers have found that these three eye conditions could PREDICT dementia.
In other words, a visit to the eye doctor could also SAVE your life.
A new study from the British Journal of Ophthalmology found that many eye conditions like age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts, and diabetes-related eye disease (DRED) could be risk factors for dementia.
In the study, the team of researchers scanned the data of 112,364 adults aged 55 to 73 years. They found that the risk for dementia was:
- 26 percent higher in people with AMD,
- 11 percent higher in those with cataracts,
- and 61 percent higher among people with DRED.
This was all AFTER disqualifying folks with obesity, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, or depression (all of which increase the risk for dementia).
Let me be clear— it’s not that these eye diseases cause your brain to turn to mush. Rather, the same mechanisms that are destroying your eyes are also destroying your brain.
So, what are you to do if you want to make sure your eyes and brain make it well into older age?
Make sure you never miss your annual eye check-up. If you’re over the age of 65, make sure you go every year or every other year, even if you don’t wear glasses. And if you notice any changes in your vision, schedule an appointment right away.
In between appointments, strengthen your vision AND your brain health with a diet rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids.
P.S. Already dealing with waning vision? Try this “light trick” to help BOOST eye health.
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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