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.
