Vision in aging and dementia.

PURPOSE

This study was designed to determine the extent of visual deficits in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients relative to normal aging changes and to patients with other types of dementia.

METHODS

Four groups of subjects were tested: patients with probable AD (N = 10), patients with other dementias (N = 10), age-matched controls (N = 11), and young controls (N = 10). Color vision was assessed with the L'Anthony D-15 desaturated color test, contrast sensitivity with the Pelli-Robson chart, and stereoacuity with the RAN-DOT test.

RESULTS

Visual changes were found in AD patients that can be accounted for by age-related deficits (color vision), deficits found in other types of dementia (stereoacuity), and deficits specific to AD (low spatial frequency contrast sensitivity).

CONCLUSION

We conclude that AD patients show a variety of visual deficits. With our tests, only deficits in contrast sensitivity were specific to AD.