How sight loss increases confusion and distress of dementia patients. First study to explore combined affect of vision loss and dementia. Sight loss increases confusion and distress of dementia patients - December 2nd, 2008

Visual impairment can increase the levels of disorientation and distress that a person suffering from dementia experiences, according to a new study. Carried out by the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London and published by the Thomas Pocklington Trust, the study explores the impact that sight loss and dementia has on the lives of older people and their carers. It is believed to be the first to investigate what affect the combination of both conditions can have on a person. Hour-long interviews with 52 people suffering from vision loss and dementia, family carers and care professionals found that the joint experience of both conditions led to disorientation and a sense of isolation, with many participants finding it difficult to recall the time and their surroundings, and unable to locate themselves using visual cues. Researchers also found that sight loss professionals felt ill-equipped to deal with the needs of people with mental health problems. The qualitative study went on to report that dementia care staff felt that the needs created by vision loss were at risk of being overlooked by the mental health services, and there was little evidence that showed joint working between sensory impairment and mental health teams. Joanna Murray, report author and senior lecturer in social research at King's College, said: "The combination of dementia and sight loss creates a profound sense of disorientation and provokes a great deal of distress, yet the role of sight loss in dementia is not being addressed." Reporting that visual hallucinations greatly increase disorientation amongst sufferers, researchers have called for investigations into the most appropriate ways to manage visual hallucinations in older people with combined visual and cognitive loss. They also highlighted the need for more studies to be carried out on the prevalence of visual impairment in dementia among older people. Authors of the study include Ms Murray, Vanessa Lawrence, Professor Sube Banerjee and Dr Dominic Ffytche.