Face memory deficits in subjects with eye diseases: a comparative analysis between glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration patients from a developing country

• Published in: Graefe's archive for clinical and experimental ophthalmology Vol. 257; no. 9; pp. 1941 - 1946
• Main Authors: Mazzoli, Livia S., Urata, Carla N., Kasahara, Niro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.09.2019; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acuity; Age; Aged; Aging; Brazil - epidemiology; Cognitive ability; Comorbidity; Comparative analysis; Cross-Sectional Studies; Developing Countries; Eye diseases; Female; Form Perception - physiology; Glaucoma; Glaucoma, Open-Angle - complications; Glaucoma, Open-Angle - physiopathology; Gonioscopy; Humans; Intraocular Pressure - physiology; LDCs; Macular degeneration; Macular Degeneration - complications; Macular Degeneration - physiopathology; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Memory; Memory Disorders - epidemiology; Memory Disorders - etiology; Memory Disorders - physiopathology; Middle Aged; Ophthalmology; Pattern recognition; Visual Acuity; Visual field; Visual Fields - physiology; Brazil; Glaucoma; Age-related macular degeneration; Face perception
• ISSN: 0721-832X; 1435-702X; 1435-702X
• DOI: 10.1007/s00417-019-04380-5

Purpose Older people present significant declines in face recognition with age. Spatial vision (high-contrast acuity) and age are the best predictors of face recognition. Visual disabilities are more common in the older population due to aging eye diseases. The purpose of the study was to compare the face recognition memory deficit between primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) patients living in a developing country. Methods This was a cross-sectional, observational study. The sample comprised 64 patients with POAG, 48 with ARMD, and 52 controls. All groups were matched for age, gender, comorbidity, and ethnic distribution. Evidence of cognitive impairment was ruled out and subjects with even mild cognitive impairment were not included in the study. After a complete eye examination including measurement of the best-corrected visual acuity, fundus evaluation, and automated visual field, all subjects underwent the Cambridge face memory test (CFMT). CFMT score in percentage (%) was the main outcome measure and data were compared with ANOVA. Results The mean age was 66.6 ± 9.2, 69.8 ± 9.3, and 63.4 ± 7.3 years, for POAG, ARMD, and controls, respectively ( P  = 0.152). Gender, ethnicity, and comorbidity were evenly distributed among the groups. The CFMT score was 53.3 ± 15.2%, 49.8 ± 14.2%, and 62.1 ± 15.9% for POAG, ARMD, and controls, respectively ( P  < 0.001). Conclusion ARMD and POAG patients have higher face recognition memory deficit as compared to normal controls. This might be due to a visual disability.