Your eyes can tell you a lot about your mental health. According to new research, changes in visual sensitivity can reveal signs of dementia up to 12 years before an official diagnosis.
Researchers conducted a visual sensitivity test on the subjects at the start of the trial
Researchers tracked 8,623 healthy people in Norfolk, England, over several years. Among these, 537 developed dementia. Researchers found characteristics that may precede a dementia diagnosis after analyzing the study’s data.
Researchers conducted a visual sensitivity test on the subjects at the start of the trial. The test required participants to find a triangle amid moving dots. Those who were slower to recognize the triangle later developed dementia.
Visual signs of dementia
Visual issues could be an indicator of cognitive decline. According to research, Alzheimer’s disease first affects sections of the brain associated with vision before harming memory-related regions. Thus, eye tests may detect symptoms of memory issues.
Alzheimer’s disease also affects contrast sensitivity, and the capacity to distinguish colors may be compromised early on.
One early indicator of Alzheimer’s is trouble managing eye movements, particularly ignoring distracting objects. This condition may raise the risk of accidents, especially while driving.
People with dementia may have difficulty processing new faces efficiently. They may not follow the typical pattern of scanning a person’s face during the conversation, making them appear distant or disoriented.
Studies indicate that eye movement could enhance memory performance.
Activities that require frequent eye movements, such as watching television or reading, may reduce the risk of dementia.
Despite encouraging findings, employing eye movements as a diagnostic technique for Alzheimer’s disease poses challenges. Access to expensive and complex eye-tracking devices is still a hurdle. Until more accessible choices become available, the general use of eye movements in diagnosis will remain limited.
