Vision and Cognition: Findings from the Longitudinal Aging Study in India—Diagnostic Assessment of Dementia

Vision impairment (VI) is associated with cognitive decline and dementia, however little research has been conducted in India. Using data from LASI-DAD, linear models tested the association of VI (better-seeing eye <20/60) with cognitive domains including orientation, learning/memory, language, attention, and total cognition. Models were adjusted for age, sex, geographic, and socioeconomic characteristics. VI was significantly associated with lower orientation (β=-0.47, p<.01), learning/memory (β=-4.6, p<.01), attention (β=-1.6, p<.01), and total cognition (β=-8.4, p<.01), but not language (β=-0.14, p<.1) scores. The association of VI with cognitive measures did not vary by sex. For each measure, VI was equivalent to 5-13 years of cognitive aging. In summary, VI is associated with poorer performance in most cognitive domains among older Indian adults. Longitudinal data are needed to determine directionality and causality. Since >80% of VI in India is treatable, poor vision may represent a modifiable risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia.