Dementia’s earliest warning sign?

The first signs of dementia may not be absent-mindedness… but a vision problem that can appear years before the condition itself.

Now, don’t panic if you have bad eyesight. Plenty of us do, and it tends to get worse as we get older. That’s perfectly normal… and it takes a lot more than thicker glasses to suggest dementia might be in your future.

According to the latest research, a decline in visuospatial skills can be the first indication of this condition. Those are the skills that help us figure out how objects relate to each other – like knowing that a man on the corner across from you isn’t the same size as a telephone pole a block away.

The new study, published in the Archives of Neurology, followed 444 people who did not have dementia at first over an average of nearly six years. During that time, they were given cognitive tests – including tests on their visuospatial skills.

Researchers found that many of the 134 subjects who ultimately were diagnosed with dementia suffered a decline in visuospatial skills one year before the first outward signs of cognitive decline, and three full years before an actual clinical diagnosis of dementia.

None of this really suggests how we can treat or prevent the condition based on eyesight… but it can help us to better understand who’s at risk earlier, so those people can get the help they need to slow the progression of this degenerative disease.

For more on the best ways to lower your risk of dementia, including a list of great brain vitamins, take a look at the recent e-Alert from the Health Sciences Institute, “Alzheimer’s risk goes down when you get up off the couch.”

There are other reasons to keep an eye on your vision, and not just those visuospatial skills. Poor eyesight has been linked to a number of problems, including early death – although researchers are still puzzled as to why.

One new study speculates that problems walking and falls caused by poor vision may be the reason… while others suggest the same poor diet that led to eye trouble also causes overall poor health.

Whatever the cause, keep your own eyes in top shape by making sure you get enough of the nutrients needed for good vision. That includes omega-3 fatty acids, as I mentioned last week.

Other nutrients that can boost your eyesight include lutein, zeaxanthin, beta carotine and B vitamins. You may be able to find a supplement that contains all these vitamins and more to cut down on the number of pills you need to take – as well as tiny labels you’ll need to read.

Seeing better may or may not actually help you to live longer – but it will certainly help you live better.