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Can wearing glasses prevent dementia? Know how vision loss affects your brain health
Research shows that there is a strong link between vision impairment and dementia, and treating vision problems can reduce the risk of this degenerative disease. According to experts, vision loss affects the parts of the brain that process visual information leading to difficulty seeing, and judging distance and colour – leading to various symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer’s. Read on to know more.
Scientists say that about half of dementia cases could be prevented if these and other risk factors were eliminated from our lives
Dementia – a general term for the loss of memory, language, problem-solving and other thinking abilities – has no cure to date. However, based on advancements in science and the symptoms, doctors have come up with various ways to manage this degenerative condition.
And so, according to a new study, public health interventions to tackle key risk factors for the condition could save up to £4 billion each year. The figures come as uncorrected vision loss and high cholesterol are added to the list of potential causes of dementia.
Scientists say that about half of all dementia cases could be prevented if these and other risk factors were eliminated from our lives.
How does vision loss affect your brain health?,
Wearing glasses could help you avoid a major new risk factor for dementia, according to research published in The Lancet. Scientists say two per cent of cases could be linked to uncorrected vision problems.
Vision loss affects the parts of the brain that process visual information, causing difficulty seeing and judging distance and color. Many people also have reduced sensitivity to contrast and depth perception and have difficulty detecting movement. Other symptoms include distortions, sensitivity to light, visual hallucinations, and difficulty recognizing objects and faces.
Experts recommend getting regular eye exams, wearing corrective lenses, and protecting the eyes from injury, which can help maintain vision health.
What is dementia?,
Dementia involves a high level of decline in mental function that is severe enough to interfere with daily life. According to doctors, a person with dementia has two or more of these specific difficulties, including:
- Memory
- logic
- Language
- Coordination
- mood
- Behaviour
Dementia develops when the parts of your brain that are involved with learning, memory, decision-making or language are affected by infections or diseases. The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease.
What causes dementia?,
Dementia is caused by damage to your brain that affects nerve cells, destroying the organ’s ability to communicate with its different areas. Dementia is also caused by a blockage of blood flow to your brain, depriving it of the oxygen and nutrients it needs. Without oxygen and nutrients, brain tissue dies.
Damage to your brain causes different symptoms, depending on the area of your brain affected. According to doctors, some dementias cannot be cured and worsen over time, while others are caused by other medical conditions that also affect your brain. Another group of health problems can result in dementia-like symptoms.
Many of these conditions are treatable, and symptoms of dementia are reversible.
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