Home › Research › Disparities
Association of Vision Loss With Cognition in Older Adults
Chen SP, Bhattacharya J, Pershing S.. JAMA ophthalmology, 2017-09-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Sample weights were used to ensure result generalizability. Results The NHANES comprised 2975 respondents aged 60 years and older who completed the DSST measuring cognitive performance. In the NHANES, distance VI (β = -5.1; 95% CI, -8.6 to -1.6; odds ratio [OR], 2.8; 95% CI, 1.1-6.7) and subjective VI (β = -5.3; 95% CI, -8.0 to -2.6; OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.6-4.8) were both associated with lower DSST scores and higher odds of DSST impairment after full adjustment with covariates. Near VI was associated with lower DSST scores but not higher odds of DSST impairment. The NHATS data corroborated these results, with all vision variables associated with higher odds of dementia after full adjustment (distance VI: OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.6-2.2; near VI: OR, 2.6; 95% CI, 2.2-3.1; either distance or near VI: OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.8-2.4). Conclusions and relevance In a nationally representative sample of older US adults, vision dysfunction at distance and based on self-reports was associated with poor cognitive function.
Key findings
- Sample weights were used to ensure result generalizability.
- Results The NHANES comprised 2975 respondents aged 60 years and older who completed the DSST measuring cognitive performance.
- In the NHANES, distance VI (β = -5.1; 95% CI, -8.6 to -1.6; odds ratio [OR], 2.8; 95% CI, 1.1-6.7) and subjective VI (β = -5.3; 95% CI, -8.0 to -2.6; OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.6-4.8) were both associated with lower DSST scores and higher odds of DSST impairment after full adjustment with covariates.
- Near VI was associated with lower DSST scores but not higher odds of DSST impairment.
- The NHATS data corroborated these results, with all vision variables associated with higher odds of dementia after full adjustment (distance VI: OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.6-2.2; near VI: OR, 2.6; 95% CI, 2.2-3.1; either distance or near VI: OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.8-2.4).
Why it matters
In a nationally representative sample of older US adults, distance vision problems and self-reported vision problems were associated with poorer cognitive function and higher odds of dementia. This cross-sectional study shows an association only and cannot prove that vision loss causes dementia or that treating vision would prevent it.
New to this subject? Start with our plain-English guide: Disparities →
Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Participants1,527
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 60/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a snapshot of people at one point in time. Scored zero for effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (JAMA ophthalmology) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | JAMA Ophthalmology: journal h-index 143 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 4 / 12 | A snapshot of people at one point in time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2017 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 3 / 4 | 1,527 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 311 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 28.3 citations a year over 11 year(s) since 2017 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 14.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 6 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 118 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Suzann Pershing: h-index 33 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | Stanford University: institution h-index 2,684 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 28817745) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 60 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2017.2838
- PubMed: 28817745
- Original source →
- Free full text: PubMed Central →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Chen, S. P., Bhattacharya, J., & Pershing, S. (2017). Association of Vision Loss With Cognition in Older Adults. JAMA ophthalmology. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2017.2838
Vancouver
Chen SP, Bhattacharya J, Pershing S. Association of Vision Loss With Cognition in Older Adults. JAMA ophthalmology. 2017. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2017.2838. PMID: 28817745.
BibTeX
@article{chen2017-28817745,
author = {Chen, S. P. and Bhattacharya, J. and Pershing, S.},
title = {{Association of Vision Loss With Cognition in Older Adults}},
journal = {JAMA ophthalmology},
year = {2017},
doi = {10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2017.2838},
pmid = {28817745},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2017.2838}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.
Later studies that cite this one
6 studies in the alzhub library list this one in their references.