Study links cataract surgery to 29% lower risk of dementia and Alzheimer's

WISE NEWS PRESS / IZMIR, TURKEY — DEC. 15, 2025

New research conducted in the United States suggests that cataract surgery may significantly reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.

According to findings published in JAMA Internal Medicine, one of the most prestigious medical journals in the U.S., undergoing cataract surgery is associated with a 29 percent lower risk of dementia in later life. Prof. Dr. Mahmut Kaşkaloğlu, founder of Kaşkaloğlu Eye Hospital, highlighted the study's significance, noting that vision restoration plays a critical role in maintaining brain health.

Visual input and brain health

Prof. Dr. Kaşkaloğlu detailed the study's methodology, which tracked 3,038 participants aged 65 and older who were free of dementia at the time of diagnosis. Of these, 1,382 underwent cataract surgery, while the remainder did not.

"Researchers followed the participants for ten years and found that those who had cataract surgery had a 29 percent lower risk of dementia compared to those who did not," Kaşkaloğlu explained. He added that the study also analyzed glaucoma surgery but found no similar correlation with dementia risk, suggesting the benefit is specific to the restoration of clear vision provided by cataract removal.

"This is not the first study to show that cataract surgery may protect against Alzheimer's and dementia," Kaşkaloğlu noted. "Researchers suggest that impaired vision reduces sensory input to the brain, which can lead to brain shrinkage—a known risk factor for dementia."

Rising surgical rates and technological advances

Cataract surgery remains the most frequently performed eye operation worldwide. Prof. Dr. Kaşkaloğlu observed that surgical rates in Turkey have surged in parallel with the aging population and improved access to healthcare.

"Fifteen to twenty years ago, 75,000 cataract surgeries were performed annually in Turkey. Today, that number exceeds 500,000, despite the population not growing at the same rate," he stated.

Kaşkaloğlu attributes this increase to a rising average life expectancy and easier access to specialists. He also emphasized the role of medical technology: "We cannot ignore the advancements in the medical field. With 'smart lenses' (intraocular lenses), patients can often see better after surgery than they did before developing cataracts. Hospitals in our region possess modern facilities that often rival or exceed those in the U.S. and neighboring countries, which is a point of pride for the sector."

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