Ali G Hamedani1, Dylan P Thibault1,2, Judy A Shea3,4, Allison W Willis1,2,4. 1. Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. 2. Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. 3. Department of General Internal Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. 4. Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Vision loss may be a risk factor for hallucinations, but this has not been studied at the population level. METHODS: To determine the association between self-reported vision loss and hallucinations in a large community-based sample of older adults, we performed a cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis of two large, nationally representative US health surveys: the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) and the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Visual impairment and hallucinations were self- or proxy-reported. Multivariate single and mixed effects logistic regression models were built to examine whether visual impairment and history of cataract surgery were associated with hallucinations. RESULTS: In NHATS (n = 1520), hallucinations were more prevalent in those who reported difficulty reading newspaper print (OR 1.77, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.32-2.39) or recognising someone across the street (OR 2.48, 95% CI: 1.86-3.31) after adjusting for confounders. In HRS (n = 3682), a similar association was observed for overall (OR 1.32, 95% CI: 1.08-1.60), distance (OR 1.61, 95% CI: 1.32-1.96) and near eyesight difficulties (OR 1.52, 95% CI: 1.25-1.85). In neither sample was there a significant association between cataract surgery and hallucinations after adjusting for covariates. CONCLUSIONS: Visual dysfunction is associated with increased odds of hallucinations in the older US adult population. This suggests that the prevention and treatment of vision loss may potentially reduce the prevalence of hallucinations in older adults.
BACKGROUND:Vision loss may be a risk factor for hallucinations, but this has not been studied at the population level. METHODS: To determine the association between self-reported vision loss and hallucinations in a large community-based sample of older adults, we performed a cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis of two large, nationally representative US health surveys: the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) and the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Visual impairment and hallucinations were self- or proxy-reported. Multivariate single and mixed effects logistic regression models were built to examine whether visual impairment and history of cataract surgery were associated with hallucinations. RESULTS: In NHATS (n = 1520), hallucinations were more prevalent in those who reported difficulty reading newspaper print (OR 1.77, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.32-2.39) or recognising someone across the street (OR 2.48, 95% CI: 1.86-3.31) after adjusting for confounders. In HRS (n = 3682), a similar association was observed for overall (OR 1.32, 95% CI: 1.08-1.60), distance (OR 1.61, 95% CI: 1.32-1.96) and near eyesight difficulties (OR 1.52, 95% CI: 1.25-1.85). In neither sample was there a significant association between cataract surgery and hallucinations after adjusting for covariates. CONCLUSIONS:Visual dysfunction is associated with increased odds of hallucinations in the older US adult population. This suggests that the prevention and treatment of vision loss may potentially reduce the prevalence of hallucinations in older adults.
Authors: Robert S Wilson; Kristin R Krueger; Julia M Kamenetsky; Yuxiao Tang; David W Gilley; David A Bennett; Denis A Evans Journal: Am J Geriatr Psychiatry Date: 2005-11 Impact factor: 4.105
Authors: Xinzhi Zhang; Kai McKeever Bullard; Mary Frances Cotch; M Roy Wilson; Barry W Rovner; Gerald McGwin; Cynthia Owsley; Lawrence Barker; John E Crews; Jinan B Saaddine Journal: JAMA Ophthalmol Date: 2013-05 Impact factor: 7.389