scholarly journals Visual Impairment, Eye Diseases, and Dementia Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Elżbieta Kuźma ◽  
Thomas J. Littlejohns ◽  
Anthony P. Khawaja ◽  
David J. Llewellyn ◽  
Obioha C. Ukoumunne ◽  
...  

Background: Visual impairment and eye diseases have been associated with dementia, though with mixed findings and often in cross-sectional studies. Objective: To identify prospective studies investigating associations between visual impairment or common eye diseases and risk of all-cause dementia or key dementia subtypes. Methods: We searched Medline, PsycINFO, and Embase from inception to January 2020. We also conducted backward and forward citation searches of included studies and set up alerts to identify studies published after the search date. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to combine adjusted estimates across studies. Results: Thirty studies met our eligibility criteria. For visual impairment, pooled estimates indicated an increased risk of all-cause dementia (37,705 participants, 3,415 cases, risk ratio [RR] = 1.38, 95%confidence interval [CI]: 1.19–1.59, I2 = 28.6%). Pooled estimates also suggested an increased dementia risk associated with cataract (6,659 participants, 1,312 cases, hazard ratio [HR] = 1.17, 95%CI 1.00–1.38, I2 = 0.0%) and diabetic retinopathy (43,658 participants, 7,060 cases, HR = 1.34, 95%CI 1.11–1.61, I2 = 63.9%), respectively. There was no evidence of an association between glaucoma (175,357 participants, 44,144 cases, HR = 0.97, 95%CI 0.90–1.04, I2 = 51.5%) or age-related macular degeneration (7,800,692 participants, >  2,559 cases, HR = 1.15, 95%CI 0.88–1.50, I2 = 91.0%) and risk of dementia, respectively. Conclusion: As visual impairment, cataract, and diabetic retinopathy are associated with an increased likelihood of developing dementia, early diagnosis may help identify those at risk of dementia. Given most causes of visual impairment are treatable or preventable, the potential for dementia prevention warrants further investigation.

2019 ◽  
pp. bjophthalmol-2018-313277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shi Song Rong ◽  
Bo Yee Lee ◽  
Andrew K Kuk ◽  
Xin Ting Yu ◽  
Suki S Li ◽  
...  

AimTo determine the association between dementia and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) using meta-analysis.MethodsWe searched in the MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Knowledge, PsycInfo and Cochrane database of systematic reviews for studies published from March 1959 to March 2018. We included cross-sectional, case–control and cohort studies that evaluated the association of dementia/Alzheimer's disease (AD) with AMD (as outcome) and the association of AMD with dementia/AD (as outcome). Studies that compared cognitive functions between AMD and controls were also included. The summary outcomes, namely odds ratio (OR), relative risk, mean differences and corresponding 95% CIs, were estimated using random effects models. We performed sensitivity analysis based on study quality and individual study effect to control for potential biases.ResultsAmong 2159 citation records, we identified 21 studies consisting of 7 876 499 study subjects for meta-analysis. Patients with dementia (padjusted≤0.017, OR≥1.24, I2≤9%) or AD (p=0.001, ORunadjusted=2.22, I2=50%) were at risk for AMD, particularly for late AMD (padjusted<0.001, OR=1.37, I2=0). AMD was also significantly associated with increased risk of AD/cognitive impairment (padjusted=0.037, OR=2.42, I2=38%). Moreover, patients with AMD had poorer cognitive functions when compared with controls, including Mini-Mental State Examination (p<0.001, I2≤79%) and Trail Making Test A (p<0.001, I2=0). Sensitivity analysis and Egger’s test indicated our results were less likely biased.ConclusionsA significant association between dementia/AD and AMD calls for greater clinical awareness. The cost-effectiveness of routine screening for the other condition in patients with primary diagnosis of dementia/AD or AMD requires further study.


Author(s):  
Tayo Julius Bogunjoko ◽  
Adekunle O. Hassan ◽  
Adunola Ogunro ◽  
Toyin Akanbi ◽  
Bidemi Abudu

Background: To review cases of posterior segment eye diseases (PSEDs) seen at the Eye Foundation Centre Ijebu, Nigeria in a 5 year period for planning purposes.Methods: Data was collected from patients’ case notes from January 2006 to December 2011. A systematic sampling of 468 patients from 1173 case notes of patient with (PSEDs) was done. Information retrieved was: age, sex, state of residence and diagnosis. All patients were examined by the glaucoma and the vitroretinal specialist as the case may be. They had visual acuity, refraction, slit lamp examination (including intraocular pressure (IOP) with Goldman applanation tonometer), and dilated fundoscopy with (bilateral indirect ophthalmoscopy) BIO, slit lamp using 20 D, 78 D and 90 D respectively. The glaucoma patients in addition had central visual field (CVF), Central cornea thickness (CCT), fundus photograph and in some cases optical coherence tomography (OCT) done in addition to the above.Results: The mean age was 59.98 years (SD 17.67) and the age range is 5-95 years. Males outnumbered females by 63% to 37%. The diseases were more common in age group 61 to 80. Patients’ attendances were mostly from Ijebu division of Ogun state (57%). Glaucoma is the commonest cause of attendance 262 (56%) followed by diabetic retinopathy 29 (6.2%) and age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) 28 (6.0%).Conclusions: Glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and ARMD were noted as the commonest PSEDs in Ijebu division in Southwestern Nigeria.


Author(s):  
Jacqueline Chua ◽  
Ching-Yu Cheng ◽  
Tien Yin Wong

General physicians have an essential role in preventing vision loss in older people. However, most vision-threatening eye disorders are initially asymptomatic and often go underdiagnosed. Therefore screening, early detection, and timely intervention are important in their management. The most common cause of visual impairment is uncorrected or undercorrected refractive error, followed by cataract, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. Spectacles and cataract surgery can successfully restore sight for uncorrected refractive error and cataract, respectively. Visual impairment as a result of age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy can be prevented with appropriate treatment if they are identified early enough. This chapter provides an overview of common age-related eye disease and visual impairment.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Wang ◽  
Yangjing Xue ◽  
Saroj Thapa ◽  
Luping Wang ◽  
Jifei Tang ◽  
...  

Data on the association between age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cardiovascular disease and mortality are conflicting. The purpose of this report is to conduct a systematic review to better understand the role of AMD as a risk factor for CVD events and mortality. We searched Medline (Ovid) and Embase (Ovid) for trials published from 1980 to 2015. We included 20 cohort studies that reported relative risks with 95% confidence intervals for the association of AMD and cardiovascular events and mortality, involving 29,964,334 participants. In a random-effects model, the adjusted RR (95% confidence interval [CI]) associated with AMD was 1.08 (1.00–1.117) for all-cause mortality (8 studies) and 1.18 (0.98–1.43) for cardiovascular disease mortality (5 studies). The pooled RR (95% CI) was 1.17 (0.94–1.45) for coronary heart disease (CHD; 3 studies) and 1.13 (0.93–1.36) for stroke (8 studies). Findings from this systematic review support that AMD is associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality. The evidence that AMD predicts incident CVD events or CVD mortality remains inclusive and warrants further study in the future.


2009 ◽  
Vol 48 (175) ◽  
Author(s):  
Suprada Pokhrel ◽  
O K Malla ◽  
C L Pradhananga ◽  
S N Joshi

Introduction: Age related macular degeneration is a disorder of the macula most often clinicallyapparent affecting central vision and is one of the leading causes of blindness in the populationabove 50 years. The aim of this study is to determine clinical profi le of AMD in Nepalese presentingto a Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu.Methods: It was a hospital-based cross-sectional study. The subjects included in the study were thosepresenting to the Ophthalmology department of Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospitalfrom July 2007- Dec 2007.The total number of individuals included in the study were 402 and totalnumber of eyes were 804.Results: AMD was observed in 5.2% out of 402 subjects of 40 years and above age group withprevalence increasing with age. The prevalence of AMD was 0.7% within 40-50 years of age-groupindividuals increasing to 2.6% in 51-60 years, 6.5% in 61-70 years and to 19.3% among subjectsabove 71 years. This study revealed that the prevalence of AMD in females was higher with femalepreponderance in ratio of 2.5:1. 52.5 % AMD subjects in our study had visual impairment with 6/24-6/60 vision and 15% had vision <3/60-PL. Our study revealed statistically signifi cant increased riskfor AMD with aging (p=0.00). Increased risk was observed in female gender and diabetics though theOdds ratio (OR) was statistically insignifi cant (p=>0.01).Conclusions: Prevalence of AMD in Nepalese presenting to Kathmandu Medical College TeachingHospital was 5% with female preponderance in ratio of 2.5:1. Aging showed statistically signifi cantincreased risk for AMD development in this study.Key Words: Age-related macular degeneration, blindness, Nepalese, prevalence


2008 ◽  
Vol 101 (2) ◽  
pp. 270-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laima Brazionis ◽  
Kevin Rowley ◽  
Catherine Itsiopoulos ◽  
Kerin O'Dea

Diabetic retinopathy increases with duration of diabetes and may be associated with carotenoid status. Carotenoids alter the pro-oxidation/antioxidation balance, and circulating levels depend largely on dietary intake. Lower levels have been reported in diabetes and age-related macular degeneration; however, little is known of the relationship between carotenoids and diabetic complications. Consequently, the purpose of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between plasma carotenoids and diabetic retinopathy. We assessed the carotenoid–retinopathy relationship in 111 individuals with type 2 diabetes in a community-based, cross-sectional study. We photodocumented retinal status and used HPLC to measure plasma carotenoid concentrations. Data for clinical and demographic variables and risk factors for diabetic retinopathy were obtained from 24 h urine and fasting blood samples, and an interviewer-assisted lifestyle questionnaire. We found that the combined lycopene and lutein/zeaxanthin (non-pro-vitamin A (non-PVA) carotenoid) concentration when compared with the pro-vitamin A (PVA) carotenoids (α-carotene, β-carotene and β-cryptoxanthin) was significantly lower in the retinopathy than non-retinopathy group (OR 1·2 (95 % CI 1·0, 1·4)v.1·6 (95 % CI 1·4, 1·7), respectively;P = 0·009). A higher non-PVA:PVA ratio also predicted a lower risk of diabetic retinopathy, after adjustment for potential confounders (OR 0·33 (95 % CI 0·12, 0·95);P = 0·039). Finally, a higher concentration of PVA carotenoids was associated with greater odds of diabetic retinopathy, after adjustment for risk factors (P = 0·049). We suggest synergies between carotenoids are implicated in diabetic retinopathy, independent of established risk factors. Importantly, our observations indicate dietary modulation of retinopathy risk may be possible by increasing intakes of lutein- and lycopene-rich foods.


2013 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
K.S. Naidoo ◽  
D Sweeney ◽  
J Jaggernath ◽  
B. Holden

A cross-sectional, population-based, epidemiological study of blindness and visual impairment was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of vision loss and various sight-threatening conditions in the Lower Tugela health district of the KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. This study was conducted on a randomly selected sample of 3444 individuals from the district. This number represented 84% of those who were visited and 80.1% of the total sample selected. The participants ranged in age from 5 to 93 years (mean of 29.2 years and a median of 20.0 years). The proportion of men to women differed between participants aged <30 years and those aged >30 years. In both age groups, women represented the majority of participants (66.5%), but the number of women to men in the older age group was approximately twice that found in the group aged less than 30 years. The difference in age between the men and women in the study was not statistically significant (p >0.5). The study revealed that 6.4% of the population studied were visually impaired. The distribution of uncorrected visual acuity was better for women than for men for both OD and OS (p = 0.000 for OD and OS). The main causes of visual impairment were refractive error (44.5%), cataract (31.2%), glaucoma (6.0%), hypertensive retinopathy (4.1%) and diabetic retinopathy (4.1%). Unilateral blindness (OD) was present in 0.78% (95% Confidence interval (CI): 0.42%-1.14%) of participants and unilateral blindness (OS) was present in 1.1% (95% CI: 0.70%-1.50%). Thirty-one participants (0.9%) were bilaterally blind with the main causes being cataracts (54.8%) and refractive error (12.9%). Glaucoma and hypertensive retinopathy were responsible for 6.4% of ..bilateral blindness. Diabetic retinopathy, other retinal conditions (coloboma) and corneal scarring were each responsible for 3.2% of bilateral blindness. Albinism, coloboma and age-related macular degeneration accounted for 9.7% of bilateral blindness. The data provides much needed information to support the planning of eye care programs in KwaZulu-Natal.  (S Afr Optom 2013 72(3) 110-118)


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tuan-Phat Huynh ◽  
Shivani N. Mann ◽  
Nawajes A. Mandal

Botanical compounds have been widely used throughout history as cures for various diseases and ailments. Many of these compounds exhibit strong antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic properties. These are also common damaging mechanisms apparent in several ocular diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, cataract, and retinitis pigmentosa. In recent years, there have been many epidemiological and clinical studies that have demonstrated the beneficial effects of plant-derived compounds, such as curcumin, lutein and zeaxanthin, danshen, ginseng, and many more, on these ocular pathologies. Studies in cell cultures and animal models showed promising results for their uses in eye diseases. While there are many apparent significant correlations, further investigation is needed to uncover the mechanistic pathways of these botanical compounds in order to reach widespread pharmaceutical use and provide noninvasive alternatives for prevention and treatments of the major eye diseases.


Author(s):  
Jungmin LEE ◽  
Heuy Sun SUH ◽  
In Cheol HWANG

Background: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) share pathogenic mechanisms, and their lead-lag relationship remains unclear. We performed a meta-analysis of data from longitudinal studies to evaluate the interactive association between age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Methods: A literature search was performed in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library up to Feb 2019. Estimates were pooled by study quality and type of AMD and CVD. Publication bias was assessed by Begg’s test. Results: We identified nine studies for the risk of AMD in CVD and ten studies for the risk of CVD in AMD. Overall, evidence for the risk of CVD in AMD patients was most robust. Both early and late AMD preceded CVD, but more solid significance existed in late AMD. Among the types of CVD, stroke was more tightly associated with AMD than coronary heart disease. Publication bias was not significant in either direction. Conclusion: AMD is a risk factor for CVD, which is primarily driven by the increased risk of stroke in patients with late AMD. Moreover, these results suggested that AMD treatment and screening for CVD in AMD patients may have unexplored clinical benefits.


Author(s):  
Jacqueline Chua ◽  
Ching-Yu Cheng ◽  
Tien Yin Wong

General physicians have an essential role in preventing vision loss in older people. However, most vision-threatening eye disorders are initially asymptomatic and often go underdiagnosed. Therefore, screening, early detection, and timely intervention are important in their management. The most common cause of visual impairment is uncorrected or under-corrected refractive error, followed by cataract, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. Spectacles and cataract surgery can successfully restore sight for uncorrected refractive error and cataract, respectively. Visual impairment as a result of age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy can be prevented with appropriate treatment if they are identified early enough. This chapter provides an overview of common age-related eye disease and visual impairment.


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