Association between vision and cognitive function among community-dwelling older adults in Selangor, Malaysia

To determine the association between distance and near visual acuity (VA) and cognitive function among older adults in Selangor, Malaysia.

A total of 230 older adults (age ≥60y) participated in this study. Habitual distance and near VA were measured using the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study Chart and Lighthouse Near Visual Acuity Chart, respectively. Global cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (M-MSE) and the Malay language version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (M-MoCA). Digit Symbol (DS) subtest was used to measure information processing.

No significant association was observed between vision and M-MSE and M-MoCA scores. However, poor distance and near VA were found to be significantly associated with low DS scores [distance VA: β=-0.01, R ²=0.1, P=0.02; odds ratio (OR)=2.84, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.10-7.33, P=0.03; near VA: β=-0.05, R ²=0.08, P=0.00; OR=3.32, 95%CI, 1.28-8.59, P=0.01].

Poor vision is associated with a decline in information processing in older adults and substantiates the importance of preserving good vision in maintaining cognitive function.