Your Vision Can Predict Dementia 12 Years Before a Diagnosis, Research Suggests

The eyes are a window to the brain – and this outward extension of the central nervous system may reveal early signs of cognitive decline.

Two recent and large population studies, one in the United Kingdom and another in Australia, suggest that those who perform worse on simple vision tests have a higher risk of developing dementia more than a decade down the road.

The UK study, which was published in 2024, found that participants with slower visual processing speeds were more likely to develop dementia over the following 12 years.

The study from Australia, meanwhile, found that deteriorating visual acuity was a significant predictor of cognitive decline over a similar 12-year period.

"A decline in vision can be caused by a range of factors, some of which are treatable. F