A growing number of people are being diagnosed with dementia every year, imposing an unprecedented strain on health services, families, and underserved communities worldwide. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), by 2060, 14 million people in the United States are expected to have Alzheimer’s disease.
As a result, researchers are working hard to find ways to prevent Alzheimer’s disease as well as other conditions related to memory loss. These preventative measures are referred to as modifiable risk factors, and a recent study reveals that visual impairment should receive more attention than it is already receiving.
The first thing that happens when we look out and view the world is that light enter our eyes and is processed into information that is sent to the relevant regions in our brains.
The brain is responsible for the information’s organization, interpretation, and conscious experience. For example, the sensors in our eyes are constantly taking in data from our surroundings, and our brain is responsible for interpreting that data, which in turn influences how we engage with the outside world. The process by which the brain interprets the images received from the eyes is called visual perception.
Both our vision and our brains undergo changes as we become older. Both of these are worthy of being taken into consideration. A reduction in the amount of visual information that is transmitted to the brain can be caused by conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, or age-related changes in the retina or the macula, all of which are located in the rear of the eye.
The inability to take in adequate or accurate amounts of visual information can be a factor in developing cognitive and memory disorders and even dementia.
Alterations in the brain caused by Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, on the other hand, can modify how our brain processes visual input, which can alter our experience of the world and our capacity to understand it.
Anxiety, bewilderment, or even bizarre and inexplicable actions can result when our view of the world or our capacity to comprehend it is disrupted. As a result, caregivers are frequently left feeling confused, perplexed, and disturbed by the person living with dementia’s condition.
The brain goes through a range of changes as a result of dementia, one of which is how well the eyes see and how the brain processes the information brought in by the eyes.
When seniors with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia exhibit peculiar behaviours, we might conclude that they hallucinate.
There is a chance that they will have hallucinations, but alterations could just as easily interpret their behaviour in their vision.
Nevertheless, watching this peculiar behaviour can be a source of great concern for us.
Learning about vision changes can help you understand why your senior loved one could be acting in such a way, which can alleviate your fears and worries and make providing care for someone with dementia a little bit easier.
How Does Alzheimer’s or Dementia Affect The Eyes?
Researchers believe that our sense of sight and smell could be the key to diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease in its earliest stages, even before any symptoms manifest themselves. In the case of the eyes, the retinal nerve that emerges from the brain starts to become more constricted, and this is could be aa sign that Alzheimer’s disease is beginning to develop.
Because of the neurons that may be found in our eyes, our eyes can be considered an extension of the brain. The accumulation of beta-amyloid protein clumps in the brain is one of the earliest signals that a person may be showing signs of Alzheimer’s disease.
They start to manifest anywhere from 15 to 20 years before the disease really manifests itself. The imaging of the brain, which may be quite pricey, is one method that can be used to identify these aggregates.
A few researchers measured the thickness of the retina, and they found that individuals who suffered from memory loss had a thinner retina compared to people who did not have any problems with their memories.
This ailment can also produce blurry vision in its early stages, which can affect your day-to-day activities by making what you see appear unclear or out of focus. If you’ve been diagnosed with this ailment, it’s imperative that you get immediate medical assistance. So, to see, there are several processes, the most important of which is the eye.
Having the ability to see requires a series of steps, the first of which is the eye. Next, the information received by the eye needs to be correctly processed by the brain. In addition to this, one’s thoughts, memories, and other senses all play a part.
Even if a person’s eyes are in perfect health, they may still have difficulties if their brain processes information incorrectly. Dementia alters a person’s perception of the world around them by interfering with their ability to process visual information. The situation becomes even more severe when there are issues with people’s health and ability to see.
Changes in Vision of People With Dementia
People rely on their cognitive abilities to decipher what they take in through their sense of sight when they observe something with their eyes. The person you care for must use their memories of previous experiences and their other senses to correctly interpret the visuals they encounter.
However, dementia and changes in vision usually happen simultaneously. When something like this takes place, the person you care about can have vision problems like the ones listed below.
1. Issues With Depth Perception
Your loved one may have trouble sensing elevation changes, whether on the ground or on a floor, as their condition worsens. When it comes to two-dimensional and three-dimensional objects, it’s likely that they can’t tell the difference.
For instance, if your loved one sees a line on the floor, they could try to step up to it, and if they see an image, like a flower, on the wall, they might want to pick it up and hold it in their hands.
While your loved one may not always be able to ascertain when anything requires them to step up or down, the risk of falling can increase when they have problems with their depth perception.
Vision impairment brought on by dementia can make it challenging people to carry out activities of daily living on their own.
2. Reduced Peripheral Vision
Many different disorders affecting the eye might lead to a loss of peripheral vision. On the other hand, people with dementia seem to have a more severe reaction to this than other people do. So if your loved one has trouble seeing to the sides while looking straight ahead, it’s possible that they won’t be able to see obstacles in their way.
Your loved one might also be quickly frightened and unable to recognize any dangers that are approaching them.
3. Difficulties in Color Discrimination
It’s also possible to start having trouble with color perception. Even though it would appear that this simply causes a minor problem with things like coordinating clothing, it’s another severe symptom caused by dementia.
For example, an older person who is unable to recognize the colors displayed on a signal may require assistance when driving a vehicle. In addition, if you have problems with your ability to perceive colors, it might be difficult for you to tell the difference between familiar things like lemon and lime, for example.
4. Detecting Motion is a Challenge
People who have normal vision, on the whole, view the world as it actually is, which is to say that they see it as something that is always happening and moving. But on the other hand, a person whose memory is affected by dementia can have the impression that the universe is made up of a sequence of photographs.
It is easier for those with dementia to become disoriented since they are unable to envision their experiences transpiring in real-time. This may become a problem if the individual attempts to wander away from their house. In addition, if your loved one is unable to keep up with what’s happening because of rapid movements in their field of vision, they may become frustrated with everyday activities like watching television.
5. Unable to Notice Color Contrasts
Those with dementia have trouble seeing color contrasts, which can help them recognize familiar objects. For example, your loved one may have difficulty seeing a white toilet that is surrounded by a white tile floor because of the contrast between the two.
Choosing contrasting colors helps with the person locating items and objects more easily.
6. The Brain is Unable to Process Information
As dementia progresses, it becomes more difficult for the brain to process information received by the eyes.
Therefore, it blocks the information that is being received by the eyes.
Because of this, individuals suffer from a loss of depth perception and are unable to distinguish between things that are two-dimensional and those that are three-dimensional.
Your elderly loved one will have a difficult time distinguishing between things like a pattern on the carpet and an object on the floor, an apple and a photograph of an apple, and the height of the chair seat as a result of this.
Not only does the brain have trouble registering movement and the objects that are around the person, but it also has an increasingly difficult time processing the information it receives and transforming it into a meaningful message or perception. As a result, sometimes, the inferences that are reached by the brain are erroneous, which can lead to illusions, incorrect perceptions, or the incorrect identification of faces.
7. Inability to Recognize Objects
The eyes of a person diagnosed with dementia may see that object, but the person’s brain may have a different interpretation of what the eyes are seeing. As a result, individuals with Alzheimer’s disease may not be able to precisely or accurately label some things or people they observe as a consequence of the disease.
Dealing With Dementia And Vision Loss
People who live with dementia and vision loss are at a higher risk of falls, experiencing greater difficulties with movement, and experiencing larger levels of confusion than other people. They are also more likely to have difficulty communicating, comprehending, and learning new tasks, losing activities, and increasing their level of social isolation.
People living with both disorders may find it more challenging to employ some coping tactics and approaches, such as visual cues or notes, which are designed to assist individuals who struggle with communication or memory issues.
Nevertheless, there are still many things that might be of assistance to a person who is coping with both vision loss and dementia. These are the following:
1. Do Your Best to Maintain The Same Physical Surroundings For The Person You Care About
However, some adjustments are required to make the situation more secure. In situations where this is required, take the time to clearly articulate the modifications to your loved ones and assist them in navigating their new circumstances.
2. Research Tools That Can Improve The Lives of Your Loved Ones
This includes magnifying glasses, audiobooks, large print or audio labels, audio or large print tags, and motion-activated lighting. You shouldn’t be surprised if the person you care for is resistant to the use of technical assistance. Have patience and make it available, but don’t pressure them to use the resources you’ve provided. When introduced in the early phases of vision loss, these aids prevent the frustration that might develop after a person is already having difficulty seeing clearly.
3. Introduce New Aspects Little by Little
Everyone has a hard time adjusting to new circumstances, but those with dementia have a more difficult time doing so. It’s important to introduce new things little by little, rather than all at once.
4. Ask For Assistance From Various Charitable Groups
There may be resources that can make life simpler for you and the person you care about. For example, the Alzheimer’s Society and other organizations like it offer low vision services and information that can make life simpler for families dealing with Alzheimer’s disease.
5. Look Out For The Local Eyesight Rehabilitation Treatments Available to You
These offer assistance to older adults and the families of those individuals who have vision impairment.
6. Be Aware That Some People With Dementia Experience Visual Hallucinations as a Symptom of The Condition
It is necessary to be aware of this and have a better grasp of how to behave to avoid a significant amount of dread and stress.
Closing Thoughts
A person’s mind can be seriously destabilized by visual distortion and weakness. Those living with dementia and their caregivers face many difficulties as a result of vision changes.
Alzheimer’s Dementia is most commonly found in people over the age of 60. This is because macular degeneration and cataracts are more common in older people, as are other forms of vision loss. Therefore, a person’s vision may be jeopardized if they have dementia as well as age-related eye disorders.
Prevention and treatment of current eye diseases are critical in the prevention of further vision difficulties. Therefore, regular eye exams prescribed by your optometrist are important. In addition, in order to catch vision disorders in the early stages, it is important to get regular eye exams.
Finally, for those with dementia, keeping a healthy lifestyle is essential. Regular, safe exercise and a nutritious diet with plenty of fresh veggies and protein benefit general well-being and the eyes.
References
- https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/symptoms-and-diagnosis/sight-hearing-loss#:~:text=However%2C%20people%20with%20dementia%20can,problems%2C%20but%20have%20healthy%20eyes.
- https://dailycaring.com/dementia-and-eyesight-an-expert-explains-common-changes-and-behaviors-video/
- https://www.hebrewseniorlife.org/blog/dementia-alzheimers-and-eyesight-symptoms-and-how-help
- https://www.agingcare.com/articles/visual-changes-in-dementia-patients-205658.htm
- http://www.kadrmaseyecare.com/eye-health–care-blog/alzheimers-eye-sight-is-there-a-connection-alzheimers-brain-awareness-month
- https://www.prevention.com/health/health-conditions/a40514298/vision-loss-linked-to-dementia-study/
- http://www.kadrmaseyecare.com/eye-health–care-blog/vision-changes-with-dementia-alzheimers-and-brain-awareness-month
- https://www.scie.org.uk/dementia/living-with-dementia/sensory-loss/sight-loss.asp
- https://www.seniorlink.com/blog/what-alzheimers-has-to-say-about-your-eyesight
- https://www.homecareassistanceoshkosh.com/what-are-the-effects-of-dementia-on-vision-in-aging-adults/
