Seeing dementia differently: why vision matters

This Dementia Action Week, new evidence is strengthening the connection between the health of our eyes and the health of our brains, and placing vision research firmly within the conversation about dementia prevention, diagnosis and care.

Dementia Action Week runs from 21–27 September 2026, with Dementia Australia calling on Australians to start more conversations about a condition that now affects an estimated 446,500 people nationally, with around 1.7 million people involved in their care. For the vision research community, that conversation is becoming increasingly important.

Seeing dementia differently: why vision matters

The 2024 Lancet Commission identified untreated vision loss in later life as a potentially modifiable risk factor for dementia, adding to growing evidence that protecting sight may also support healthy ageing.

Researchers are also investigating the eye itself as a window into the brain. Because the retina is part of the central nervous system, technologies such as OCT and retinal imaging may one day help identify changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of neurodegeneration earlier.

For people already living with dementia, good eye care is equally important. Addressing vision impairment can support independence, mobility, communication and quality of life.

For the vision research community, this is an important and emerging frontier, showing once again that the impact of vision research extends well beyond sight.

Watch the video Let’s talk about dementia and vision

Research spotlight: Protecting the Eye's nerve cells

Understanding how nerve cells degenerate, how inflammation contributes to that process, and whether those cells can be protected is an important area of vision research.

Previous AVR-funded research led by Dr Vivek Gupta and colleagues investigated ways to protect retinal ganglion cells.

While focused on glaucoma rather than dementia, the research highlights AVR’s contribution to understanding nerve cell degeneration, inflammation and neuroprotection within the retina.

Read here the report Nuclear Receptor N R2 B1 Targeting In Glaucoma Via Nutritional Approach

Help us tell 75 years of Vision Research

As we prepare to celebrate AVR’s 75th anniversary, we want to honour the people whose commitment and belief in research have shaped our story.

We are looking for ORIA Annual Reports from 1967, 1969–1977 and 1984, as well as photographs of past meetings, events, researchers, Chairs and other memorable moments. If you, your family or colleagues have been part of the ORIA or AVR story and have something tucked away in your archives, we would love to hear from you. Your contribution could help us preserve and share the remarkable story of 75 years of supporting research to protect and restore sight. Please contact us at:

ceo@australianvisionresearch.org