According to a University of Michigan Health System study, lack of adequate vision coverage of older adults may put them at increased risk of Alzheimer''s disease - the most common form of dementia.

Using Medicare data, the study showed that those with poor vision who visited an ophthalmologist at least once for an examination were 64 percent less likely to develop dementia.

Mary A.M. Rogers, Ph.D, research assistant professor of internal medicine at the U-M Medical School and research director of the Patient Safety Enhancement Program at the U-M Health System and the Ann Arbor VA Medical Center and the lead author of the study says," Visual problems can have serious consequences and are very common among the elderly, but many of them are not seeking treatment."

Rogers and her colleague Kenneth M. Langa, M.D., Ph.D., professor of internal medicine at U-M Medical School to reach the conclusion, analyzed data from the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study and records from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Rogers further says," Our results indicate that it is important for elderly individuals with visual problems to seek medical attention so that the causes of the problems can be identified and treated."  (With Input from Agencies)