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The Bidirectional Relationship between Vision and Cognition: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Tai Anh Vu1, Eva K Fenwick2, Alfred T L Gan3
1Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Republic of Singapore.
Ophthalmology
|December 17, 2020
Summary
Visual impairment (VI) increases the risk of cognitive impairment (CIM) in older adults. Further research is needed to confirm if cognitive impairment also increases the risk of visual impairment.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology and Neurology
- Gerontology and Public Health
Background:
- Visual impairment (VI) and cognitive impairment (CIM) are common in aging populations, significantly impacting quality of life and healthcare systems.
- The bidirectional relationship between VI and CIM is not fully understood, hindering the development of integrated management strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and meta-analyze existing evidence on the bidirectional association between visual impairment and cognitive impairment in adults aged 40 and older.
Main Methods:
- A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central databases was conducted for observational studies up to April 6, 2020.
- Meta-analyses were performed on cross-sectional and longitudinal data to assess the association between VI and CIM outcomes, including any CIM and clinically diagnosed dementia.
- Random effects models were used to calculate pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), with assessments of study quality and heterogeneity.
Main Results:
- Forty studies comprising over 47 million participants were included.
- Visual impairment was significantly associated with a higher likelihood of both any cognitive impairment (longitudinal OR: 1.66) and clinically diagnosed dementia (longitudinal OR: 2.09).
- Preliminary evidence suggested a potential association between CIM and VI, but insufficient data precluded meta-analysis.
Conclusions:
- Visual impairment is a significant risk factor for cognitive impairment in older adults.
- Further research is required to elucidate the association of cognitive impairment as a risk factor for visual impairment.
- Early detection and management strategies for both VI and CIM are crucial for mitigating public health consequences.
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