Eyes Could Detect Dementia Up to 12 Years Before Diagnosis, Study Finds

Eyes Could Detect Dementia Up to 12 Years Before Diagnosis, Study Finds
————————-
A new study reveals that subtle changes in visual processing speed may signal the onset of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, up to 12 years in advance, Earth.com revealed. Conducted on 8,623 adults, the research found that those who later developed dementia took about two seconds longer to detect a faint triangle on a computer screen, increasing their future risk by 56%.

Lead author Eef Hogervorst from Loughborough University explained that this simple, non-invasive test could easily be integrated into routine health checkups without requiring blood samples. The test measures how quickly the brain registers and responds to visual stimuli, a function linked closely to memory performance.

The study highlights that toxic proteins accumulate first in the retina—an extension of the brain—causing early damage in vision-related brain areas before memory centers are affected. This damage impairs contrast sensitivity, color discrimination, and motion detection.

Researchers are also exploring smartphone apps and wearable technology to monitor eye movements and pupil responses as accessible tools for early dementia screening. While promising, experts emphasize the importance of clear guidelines to prevent false positives and protect privacy.

Lifestyle factors such as regular reading, exercise, and maintaining vascular health are encouraged to support cognitive function. The findings were published in Scientific Reports, offering hope for earlier detection and intervention in dementia care.