19 August 2023 , 08:17
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Our eyes may be able to provide vital clues that you are developing dementia, a study has suggested.
Dementia - an umbrella term for a range of diseases including Alzheimer’s - is particularly common in people over 65, but can affect all ages. Typical symptoms of dementia are memory loss, confusion, difficulty concentrating, and difficulty carrying out familiar daily tasks.
But now there may be another symptom, detectable long before the memory begins to deteriorate. A study from the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences suggests that eye scans could be the key to locating the disease earlier, the Liverpool Echo reported.
Retinal scans can detect changes in one’s blood vessels, meaning the “initial signs may appear in the eye” according to Dr Jørn Slot Jørgensen, leading ophthalmologist at Laser Eye Clinic London. Dr Jørgensen says an ophthalmologist - and eye care specialist - can often be the first physician to diagnose a medical condition, when first signs appear in the eye.
Dr Jørgensen said: “Some people think that visiting an ophthalmologist is only necessary if you have an eye condition or need vision correction. However, this is a widespread misconception that also applies to medical situations in general.
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According to Dr Jørgensen, the following symptoms could ring alarm bells early:
Changes in vision: Individuals with dementia may experience difficulty with visual perception, including trouble judging distances or identifying colours and contrasts
Difficulty reading or writing: Dementia can lead to problems with reading comprehension, writing coherently, or understanding symbols and numbers
Visual hallucinations: Some people with dementia may experience visual hallucinations (seeing things that are not present)
Impaired visual memory: Recalling faces, places, or objects may become challenging for individuals with dementia.
While vision changes can be the first warning signs, they don’t always appear first. The doctor shared that the onset of these symptoms can vary from person to person.
He said: “In some cases, these signs may be subtle and may not be immediately recognisable. However, in other cases, they may become noticeable enough to prompt further investigation.” Once you start experiencing any changes or problems with your vision, it’s important to seek medical help. You should speak to your GP as soon as possible.
Regular visits to your optician are just as important, as the expert could detect potentially harmful changes before symptoms even appear. Furthermore, regular eye tests might help reduce your risk of the mind-robbing condition, Dr Allon Barsam, consultant surgeon and founding partner at OCL Vision previously told the Express.