Links between blindness and dementia need to be researched

Last week’s annual report from the Chief Medical Officer that flagged up possible links between deafness, blindness and dementia as a key area of concern has been welcomed by the College of Optometrists.

As well as highlighting the normalisation of being overweight, with the increased risks of diabetes, strokes and other health problems, the report pointed out the need for more research to be undertaken to understand the ‘substantially greater probability of those with blindness reporting with Alzheimer’s or dementia’.

The College responded that it was researching the link between blindness and Alzheimer’s through the collaborative PrOVIDe project (Prevalence Of Visual Impairment In Dementia, funded by NIHR) which was due to complete in September.