TOPLINE:

Patients with retinal vascular occlusion were 1.6 times more likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and 1.8 times more likely to develop vascular dementia than individuals without the eye condition. Both retinal artery occlusion and retinal vein occlusion were associated with increased risks for all types of dementia.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers conducted a nationwide population-based cohort study using a Taiwanese claims database to assess the risk for dementia in patients with newly diagnosed retinal vascular occlusion.
• They identified 39,540 patients (mean age, 68 years) diagnosed with retinal vascular occlusion in Taiwan between 2011 and 2019 and 395,400 age- and sex-matched control individuals without the eye disorder or prior dementia; patients with a diagnosis of dementia before the date of first diagnosis of retinal vascular occlusion were excluded from the analysis.
• Outcome measures were the development of Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, and all-cause dementia, determined by two or more separate outpatient diagnoses or a single discharge diagnosis.
• The mean follow-up duration was 4.2 years.

TAKEAWAY:

• Patients with retinal vascular occlusion were at an increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease (hazard ratio [HR], 1.57; 95% CI, 1.39-1.80), vascular dementia (HR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.58-1.95), and all-cause dementia (HR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.50-1.65).
• Patients with retinal artery occlusion had higher risks for Alzheimer’s disease (HR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.14-2.23), vascular dementia (HR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.32-2.43), and all-cause dementia (HR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.42-1.86).
• Patients with retinal vein occlusion had similar increased risks for Alzheimer’s disease (HR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.39-1.80), vascular dementia (HR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.59-1.98), and all-cause dementia (HR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.52-1.67).
• The association between retinal vascular occlusion and the risk for dementia appeared more pronounced in individuals older than 65 years and in those without comorbidities such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, or stroke.

IN PRACTICE:

“Patients with retinal vascular occlusion may benefit from increased monitoring for early dementia symptoms, allowing for earlier interventions to maintain quality of life and potentially slow disease progression,” the researchers reported.

SOURCE:

This study was led by Hou-Ren Tsai, MD, of the Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital in Hualien, Taiwan. It was published online on January 1, 2026, in Ophthalmology Retina.

LIMITATIONS:

This study relied on an administrative database and lacked detailed clinical information. Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias were identified from diagnostic codes rather than by direct clinical examination. The true incidence of retinal vascular occlusion may have been underestimated due to asymptomatic cases remaining undiagnosed.

DISCLOSURES:

This study was supported by a grant from Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital. The authors reported no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.