MSGID: 1:317/3 6279ea76   
   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
    Poor eyesight unfairly mistaken for brain decline    
      
     Date:   
         May 9, 2022   
     Source:   
         University of South Australia   
     Summary:   
         Millions of older people with poor vision are at risk of being   
         misdiagnosed with mild brain decline due to cognitive tests that   
         rely on vision-dependent tasks.   
      
      
      
   FULL STORY   
   ==========================================================================   
   Millions of older people with poor vision are at risk of being   
   misdiagnosed with mild cognitive impairments, according to a new study   
   by the University of South Australia.   
      
      
   ==========================================================================   
   Cognitive tests that rely on vision-dependent tasks could be skewing   
   results in up to a quarter of people aged over 50 who have undiagnosed   
   visual problems such as cataracts or age-related macular degeneration   
   (AMD).   
      
   Age-related macular degeneration is a leading cause of vision loss for   
   older people. It doesn't cause complete vision loss, but severely impacts   
   people's ability to read, drive, cook, and even recognise faces. It has   
   no bearing on cognition.   
      
   UniSA researchers recruited 24 participants with normal vision to complete   
   two cognitive tests -- one involving vision-dependent reactive tasks   
   and the other based on verbal fluency.   
      
   Using a set of goggles to simulate AMD, the participants scored far   
   lower on the cognitive test involving reaction time tasks than without   
   the goggles.   
      
   There was no statistical difference with verbal fluency tests when using   
   the goggles.   
      
   The study has been published in Scientific Reports.   
      
   UniSA PhD candidate Anne Macnamara, who led the study, says the results   
   are a stark reminder that visual impairments -- which affect approximately   
   200 million people worldwide over the age of 50 -- unfairly affect   
   cognitive scores when tests involve visual abilities.   
      
      
      
   ==========================================================================   
   "A mistaken score in cognitive tests could have devastating ramifications,   
   leading to unnecessary changes to a person's living, working, financial   
   or social circumstances," Macnamara says.   
      
   "For example, if a mistaken score contributed to a diagnosis of mild   
   cognitive impairment, it could trigger psychological problems including   
   depression and anxiety.   
      
   "People with AMD are already experiencing multiple issues due to vision   
   loss and an inaccurate cognitive assessment is an additional burden   
   they don't need."  Visual impairments are often overlooked in research   
   and clinical settings, the UniSA researchers say, with reduced vision   
   underestimated in up to 50 per cent of older adults.   
      
   And with this figure expected to increase in line with an ageing   
   population, it is critical that neuro-degenerative researchers control   
   for vision when assessing people's cognition.   
      
   "Mobile apps can now be used to overlay simulated visual impairments   
   onto test materials when piloting their stimuli," Macnamara says.   
      
   "Also, researchers can incorporate quick and simple screening tasks   
   before getting people to do cognitive tests. Verbal tasks should always   
   be part of the assessment, too."   
      
   ==========================================================================   
   Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_South_Australia. Note:   
   Content may be edited for style and length.   
      
      
   ==========================================================================   
   Journal Reference:   
      1. Anne Macnamara, Victor R. Schinazi, Celia Chen, Scott Coussens,   
      Tobias   
         Loetscher. The effect of age-related macular degeneration on   
         cognitive test performance. Scientific Reports, 2022; 12 (1) DOI:   
         10.1038/s41598- 022-07924-8   
   ==========================================================================   
      
   Link to news story:   
   https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/05/220509204939.htm   
      
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