Abstract
Purpose :
To determine the association of multiple measures of visual function – visual acuity and contrast sensitivity – with cognitive performance in community dwelling older adults residing in Washington County, MD and Jackson, MS.
Methods :
Presenting distance visual acuity [VA] (better eye) and contrast sensitivity [CS] were measured in participants enrolled in the Eye Determinants of Cognition (EyeDOC) Study, an ancillary study to the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study. Distance VA was assessed using the ETDRS chart and CS with the MARS chart. Ten cognitive tests were used to calculate a “global cognitive function score” (Z-score). Regression analyses estimated the associations of vision (in quartiles and as a continuous variable) with cognition, adjusting for age, race, gender, diabetes and education level.
Results :
559 participants with complete vision function testing, cognitive performance scores, and demographic data were included in our analyses (mean age 78.6 [SD 4.47)], 49.4% black, 63.7% female). Mean (SD) distance visual acuity was 0.16 (0.16) logMAR. Mean (SD) logCS was 1.35 (0.23). Mean (SD) global cognitive score was -0.21 (0.84). Compared to the best quartile of VA, cognitive scores were .20 SD lower for the 2nd (p=.005), .14 lower for the 3rd (p=.09), and .24 lower for the worst quartile (p=.002). Corresponding differences for CS were .10 (p=.16), .02 higher (p=.80) and .29 lower for the worst quartile (p<.001). CS (p<.001) and VA (p=.02) were both significant in linear analysis.
Conclusions :
Both visual acuity and contrast sensitivity are associated with global cognitive performance, suggesting that testing of vision function, beyond visual acuity, may be important for identifying the likelihood of cognitive decline in older adults.
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.