New Study From Paris, France Demonstrates
Researchers at Tenon Hospital, Paris, France, found that patients with
mild Alzheimer's disease whose vision improved after cataract surgery
also showed improvement in cognitive ability, mood, sleep patterns and other behaviors.
The team's results will be presented at the American Academy of Ophthalmology's 2011 Annual Meeting.
This is the first study to specifically assess whether cataract surgery could benefit Alzheimer's patients, although earlier research had shown that poor vision is related to impaired mood and thinking skills in older people and that cataract surgery could improve their quality of life.
Thirty-eight patients (average age 85) all exhibiting mild dementia due
to Alzheimer's disease, completed the research study.
All participants had debilitating cataract in at least one eye and were appropriately treated with standard cataract surgery and implantation
of intra-ocular lenses, which replace the eyes' natural lenses in order to provide vision correction. After surgery, distance and near vision
improved dramatically in the majority Alzheimer's patients.
A neuropsychologist assessed the Alzheimer's patients for mood and depression, behavior, ability to function independently, and cognitive abilities at one month before and three months after cataract surgery. Cognitive status, the ability to perceive, understand and respond appropriately to one's surroundings, improved in 25 percent of patients.
Depression was relieved in many of them, and the level of improvement was similar to what commonly occurs after cataract surgery in elderly people who do not have dementia.
No changes were found in patients' level of autonomy, that is, their
ability to function independently. Sleep patterns improved and night time behavior problems decreased in most of the patients. Other studies have shown that when cataracts are removed, levels of the sleep-regulating hormone melatonin become normalized. This may have been a key factor
in the Alzheimer's patients' improved sleep patterns.
"We wanted to learn whether significant vision improvement would result
in positive mood and behavior changes, or might instead upset these patients' fragile coping strategies," said the researchers
"In future studies we intend to learn what factors, specifically, led to
the positive effects we found, so that we can boost the quality of life for Alzheimer's patients, their families and caregivers."
Story Source: American Academy of Ophthalmology.
American Academy of Ophthalmology (2011, October 25). Mood, cognition and sleep patterns improve in Alzheimer's patients after cataract surgery, study finds.
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