September is World Alzheimer’s Month – an opportunity to raise awareness of dementia and support those living with the condition.
What is Alzheimer’s?
Some people get Alzheimer's and dementia confused as they are sometimes used interchangeably. Dementia is an umbrella term for symptoms caused by a decline in memory, reasoning or thinking.
Alzheimer's is a degenerative condition that causes dementia symptoms. These symptoms get more severe and eventually leave the person unable to do basic tasks such as speaking or swallowing.
It’s thought that two out of three people in the UK living with dementia have Alzheimer's. [1]
Symptoms of Alzheimer's
Symptoms can vary from person to person, but early signs usually involve short-term memory. [2] The most common symptoms include:
- Memory issues
- Language problems
- Changes to how the person sees and hears things
- Changes in mood
These symptoms aren’t always a sign of Alzheimer’s, it’s important to consult a doctor if you are worried about your health or the health of a loved one.
Vision impairment and dementia
Almost half of dementia cases worldwide could be prevented or delayed according to recent research. Living with uncorrected visual impairments can increase the risk of dementia and more than one in ten people over the age of 50 have vision problems not corrected by glasses, contact lenses or vision correction surgery. [3]
The relationship between vision and dementia is still being studied and is not fully understood. Some suggest that the following may be part of the cause:
- People with untreated vision impairments use their eyes less, which leads to degeneration and less blood flow to the brain.
- People with significant visual impairments may engage less in activities that would keep their minds and bodies active (which helps prevent dementia [4]).
People living with Alzheimer’s and their vision
Alzheimer’s can cause problems with vision which may be initially difficult to spot due to other Alzheimer’s symptoms. It’s estimated that up to 60% of people with dementia have trouble with impaired vision. [5]
Visual impairments to keep an eye out for include:
- Peripheral vision loss or deterioration: Being unable to see items or people not directly in front of you. This can lead to bumping into things or falling more often.
- Loss of contrast sensitivity: Difficulty seeing objects of the same colour or a similar shade and distinguishing between them.
- Depth perception: Struggling to judge distance and the difference between 3D and flat objects. The person may think there is a step when there isn’t or try to pick-up flat objects.
If your loved one is struggling with these symptoms, you can do the following to help:
- Keep rooms well-lit
- Reduce glare as much as possible
- Get rid of clutter
- Add stair tread stickers
- Avoid heavily patterned decorations such as rugs, sofas etc.
- Stand in front of the person while speaking to them and approach from the front to avoid startling them.
The importance of regular eye tests
Since a lot of Alzheimer’s symptoms may appear neurological, it’s important to have regular eye tests to ensure there are no other causes, such as cataracts or glaucoma.
Book you or your loved one an eye exam now.
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