Associations of Visual Function With Cognitive Performance in Community-Based Older Adults: The Eye Determinants of Cognition Study

Lubaina T Arsiwala; Xinxing Guo; Pradeep Y Ramulu; A Richey Sharrett; Aleksandra Mihailovic; Bonnielin K Swenor; Thomas Mosley; YaNan Dong; Alison G Abraham

doi:10.1093/gerona/glab349

Associations of Visual Function With Cognitive Performance in Community-Based Older Adults: The Eye Determinants of Cognition Study

J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2022 Oct 6;77(10):2133-2140. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glab349.

Authors

Lubaina T Arsiwala¹, Xinxing Guo¹, Pradeep Y Ramulu^{1

2}, A Richey Sharrett², Aleksandra Mihailovic¹, Bonnielin K Swenor^{1

2}, Thomas Mosley^{3

4}, YaNan Dong², Alison G Abraham^{2

5

6}

Affiliations

¹ Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
² Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
³ Division of Geriatrics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA.
⁴ Division of Neurology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA.
⁵ Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Denver, Colorado, USA.
⁶ Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Denver, Colorado, USA.

Abstract

Background: Given the detrimental impacts of visual and cognitive impairment separately, in older adults, understanding their coexistence could inform strategies against age-related cognitive changes.

Methods: Participants from Washington County (White) and Jackson (Black) sites of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study were recruited who differed on racial, regional, urbanicity, and community-based factors. Presenting distance visual acuity (DVA; representing vision loss due to disease or lack of eye-care), corrected DVA (representing optimal correction for refractive loss of vision), and contrast sensitivity were measured. Factor scores for global cognition, memory, executive function, and language domains were calculated for 3 visits. We quantified the associations of vision measures with change in cognitive scores, stratified by community/race, using generalized estimating equations.

Results: In 982 participants, mean (standard deviation [SD]) baseline age was 74 (4) years, with 37% males and 45% Jackson/Black participants. As hypothesized, after accounting for potential confounders, in the better-eye, worse presenting DVA was associated with greater 10-year decline rate in global cognition, memory, and executive function in Washington County/White participants (eg, global cognition: -0.08 SD [95% confidence interval: -0.12, -0.04]). Worse corrected DVA was associated with greater 10-year decline rate in executive function in Washington County/White participants (-0.10 SD [-0.15, -0.04]). Better contrast sensitivity was associated with lower 10-year decline rate in global cognition and executive function in Washington County/White participants (eg, global cognition: 0.10 SD [0.06,0.14]). None of these associations were confirmed in Jackson/Black participants.

Conclusions: Our study supports a functional link between some vision measures and cognition in older adults, but in only 1 of the 2 communities studied.

Keywords: Brain; Community/race; Contrast sensitivity; Distance visual acuity; Sensory.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Aged
Cognition
Cognition Disorders*
Cognitive Dysfunction*
Female
Humans
Male
Vision Disorders
Visual Acuity

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

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