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.

There’s an old saying that tells us we don’t know what we have until it’s gone.

And that’s as true when it comes to people as it does to material objects. Many of us with an older person in our lives don’t always take the time to appreciate them and what they have to offer.

It’s tragic on a number of levels, and it actually can impact the health of a senior. That’s because having a strong social support circle is a key factor in overall health when it comes to aging.

I found the latest evidence of this in the pages of the August American Journal of Public Health, but it really only confirms what we’ve learned from previous studies.

In the latest effort, researchers followed nearly 3,500 seniors for a decade.

The researchers found that seniors who reported stronger social support networks had overall better health. On the other hand, those who said they were unhappy with their support reported poorer health.

It’s as simple as that.

I’ve told you before about the importance of staying sharp and engaged as you age to help ward off dementia. And it’s been clear for some time that seniors who withdraw – especially after they lose a spouse – tend to get sicker and lonelier.

So if you’re older, don’t let that happen to you – and don’t wait for help to come to you. Seek out friends and loved ones and stay connected. Sometimes, all it takes is a gentle reminder.

If you have an older person in your family, don’t let life get so busy and hectic that you never have time to see them. Make them an important part of your family and your life while you still can.

You know you’ll miss them when they’re gone. But for now, you can help make sure they remain healthy simply by being there for them.

Do you want to keep your mind in top shape and lower your risk for dementia?

The answer is simple: Eat more fish.

It’s easier said than done, I know – but a study published in August in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition finds that the more fish people eat, the lower the risk of dementia.

Although the study didn’t take it to the next level and find out what specifically was providing this great benefit, the smart money is on the omega-3 fatty acids found in so many fish.

And that’s not the only great news about omega-3 fatty acids this week. Another new study confirms what most of us have been seeing in practice for a while now: Fish oil helps support a healthy heart.

The study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, recommends that healthy men get 500 mg of omega-3 fatty acids per day, and that men facing heart disease get 1,000 mg per day.

You’ll get that in just a couple of ounces of good, fresh salmon.

When I need to collect my thoughts, or if I’m just looking to unwind for an afternoon, I like to head up into Glacier National Park and hike the great trails there.

Some of the area’s lakes are filled with Kokanee salmon. Most tourists think we’ve always had salmon here, but the locals will tell you the fish were introduced nearly a century ago – but that’s another story.

Why am I telling you this? You’re probably thinking this is just a red herring – but it’s not (even if herring are another great source of fish oil).

Each of these salmon – and there are so many of them – are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids. A six-ounce serving of salmon can have up to 3 grams of omega-3 fatty acids.

And while the salmon are more noticeable, the lakes here also have freshwater trout, another great source of omega-3 fatty acids. In fact, the trout can have even more omega- 3 fatty acids than the salmon. The secret is the source: Stick to freshwater trout, like the ones we have out here, because sea trout can be high in mercury.

While nothing beats a natural source of omega-3 fatty acids, I always encourage my patients to add a supplement. It’s the only way to make sure you’ll get all the great benefits of omega-3 fish oils, unless you really love your salmon.

We think of Alzheimer’s disease as a brain disorder – but new research suggests the answer may be closer to the heart.

A recent study found a link between dementia and atrial fibrillation, a condition in which the upper chambers of the heart are out of synch with the lower chambers, failing to pump blood and leading to an abnormal heartbeat.

The study, presented recently at the Heart Rhythm Society’s annual meeting, looked at 37,000 people at 20 hospitals and found that folks with that heart condition were 44 percent more likely to develop dementia over a five-year period than those without it.

There’s an even stronger connection for those under the age of 70 with atrial fibrillation. They’re 130 percent more likely to develop dementia.

And in all cases, folks with both dementia and atrial fibrillation were 61 percent more likely to die during the five-year study period.

More research is needed before anyone can say for sure whether atrial fibrillation is a possible cause of dementia, but there’s enough data now to establish a link.

The researchers believe there are three possible explanations for that link.

High blood pressure can reduce the flow of blood to the brain, depriving the cells of oxygen. And that, in turn, can lead to dementia.

We spoke about the importance of keeping your blood pressure in check just last week, and here’s extra motivation to make sure you keep at it.

The other possible causes of the connection include inflammation and small “sub-clinical” strokes. Believe me when I tell you Big Pharma is standing by ready to sell you statins and anti-clotting drugs if they can market them as dementia-prevention meds too.

But you don’t need them.

There are natural and effective ways to control your blood pressure that your doctor probably doesn’t even know about. I offered up a detailed plan in the May issue of Health Revelations. Click here to subscribe now and get complete access to the archives, and you may never worry about your blood pressure again.

There is no magic cure for Alzheimer’s, but there are ways to help prevent it or delay the onset of dementia. Later this week, we’ll talk about the importance of staying mentally engaged as you get older.

The key thing to understand, though, is that the answer is not in some new medication – but likely something already inside your body.