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Undercorrection of refractive error and cognitive function. The Beijing Eye Study 2011
Author(s) -
SCHMIDBAUER M
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2012.f058.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cognition , beijing , population , demography , psychiatry , china , environmental health , sociology , political science , law
Purpose To assess whether ocular parameters are associated with the level of cognitive function. Methods The Beijing Eye Study is a population‐based study performed in rural and urban regions of Greater Beijing. The study included 3469 individuals (56.6%) women) with a mean age of 64.6+/‐9.8 years (range: 50‐93 years). A detailed ophthalmic and medical examination was performed. The cognitive function score was measured by the MMSE (mini mental state examination) scale. Results Cognitive function measurements were available for 3127 (90.1%) study participants (56.5%) women). The mean cognitive function score was 26.3+/‐3.7 (median: 27; range: 2‐30). In multivariate analysis, after adjustment for older age (P<0.001; standardized coefficient beta:0.14), male gender (P=0.003;beta:0.06), urban region of habitation (P=0.005;beta:0.07), lower body height (P=0.001;beta:0.07), lower level of education (P<0.001;beta:0.56), type of occupation (P=0.004;beta:0.08), higher score of psychic depression (P<0.001;beta:0.06), lower self‐reported history of cardiovascular disorder (P=0.02;beta:0.07), decreasing cognitive function score was significantly associated with lower BCVA (P<0.001;beta:0.11), higher amount of undercorrection of refractive error (P=0.004;beta:0.04) and non‐wearing of glasses (P<0.001;beta:0.09). Conclusion After adjustment for systemic parameters and BCVA, the cognitive score was significantly higher in subjects wearing glasses and simultaneously, in subjects with less undercorrection of their refractive error. Although the longitudinal cause‐effect relationship could not be addressed in this cross‐sectional study, the results are in agreement with that correction of refractive errors may be useful to reduce the risk of cognitive under‐functioning.