Did you know that cataracts, a condition where the lens in the eye becomes cloudy, can increase the risk of dementia for older adults? But there’s good news! Studies are showing that having cataract surgery can actually decrease the chance of getting dementia. So, if you’re an older adult worried about your risk of dementia, consider getting cataract surgery. It could help keep your mind sharp!
A study called the Adult Changes in Thought (ACT) study has been going on for a long time in Seattle at Kaiser Permanente Washington. It involves over 5,000 people who are older than 65 years old. Researchers looked at the data of more than 3,000 people in the ACT study and found that those who had cataract surgery had a 30% lower risk of developing dementia compared to those who did not have the surgery. This lower risk of dementia lasted for at least 10 years after surgery. The study also found that cataract surgery was linked to a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease dementia specifically. So, if you’re an older adult and have been thinking about getting cataract surgery, this study suggests that it might help keep your mind sharp and lower your risk of developing dementia.
The lead researcher, Dr. Cecilia Lee, who is an expert in ophthalmology at the University of Washington School of Medicine, explained that the study they conducted was an observational one, which means they just watched and recorded what happened to the participants. The study involved over 5,000 older adults and lasted for a long time. Even after adjusting for many other factors that could affect the results, the study still showed a strong connection between cataract surgery and a lower risk of developing dementia. This means that the link between the two is very strong and not likely due to chance.
Dr. Cecilia Lee, the lead researcher and an expert in ophthalmology at the University of Washington School of Medicine, said that this kind of evidence is rare in epidemiology, which is the study of the spread of diseases. This means that the link between cataract surgery and a lower risk of developing dementia is very strong and not likely due to chance. She also added that this is very exciting because no other medical intervention has shown such a strong association with reducing the risk of dementia in older people. So, if you’re an older adult and have been thinking about getting cataract surgery, this study suggests that it might help keep your mind sharp and lower your risk of developing dementia.