An NIA-supported study found that undergoing cataract removal was associated with a lower risk of developing dementia among older adults.

Researchers analyzed data from a subset of participants from the Adult Changes in Thought (ACT) study. Participants were 65 years or older, dementia-free at the start of the study, and diagnosed with cataracts before the onset of dementia.

Researchers found that participants who underwent cataract removal surgery had a nearly 30% lower risk of developing dementia compared with participants without surgery, even after controlling for numerous additional demographic and health risks. In comparison, glaucoma surgery, which doesn’t restore vision, did not have a significant association with dementia risk.

Read more: https://www.nia.nih.gov/news/cataract-removal-linked-reduction-dementia-risk