Center for Sight, Fall River, Massachusetts

September 1, 2019

Thinner Retina a Sign of Cognitive Decline


We know that people with dementia typically have a thin retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) when we test them using optical coherence tomography (OCT) during their eye exam. Researcher reporting the results of a large study in JAMA Neurology found a significant association between RNFL thickness and cognitive function even when dementia had not yet been diagnosed. In fact, they found that those people in the bottom 20% of RNFL thickness were twice as likely to suffer cognitive decline over the next three years! This is the first study to identify that a thin RNFL indicates a risk of future cognitive decline and suggests that regular eye tests could help identify those likely to get dementia at a much earlier stage, which means suitable treatments could be prescribed at a more effective time to slow or stop the onset of dementia at early stages of the disease.

If you or someone you know is concerned about their risk of cognitive decline or even dementia, please schedule an eye exam at Center for Sight 508-730-2020, visit Center for Sight, Google or www.facebook.com/centerforsightfallriver to schedule an appointment.

Center for Sight is conveniently located at 1565 North Main Street, Suite 406, Fall River, Massachusetts 02720 for patients from Massachusetts or Rhode Island.