Effects of home reading training on reading and quality of life in AMD—a randomized and controlled study

Abstract

Background Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) causes reading impairment, reduced quality of life (QoL), and secondary depression. We have shown that support with magnifying aids improved reading speed (RS), emotional and cognitive status, and QoL. The present study investigates whether additional reading training (RT) (after adapting to appropriate visual aids) can further improve vision rehabilitation. Methods Patients with dry AMD were randomly assigned to 2 groups. The primary RT group (P-RTG, n = 25) trained with sequentially presented text (RSVP), and the control group (CG, n = 12) performed placebo training (crossword puzzles) and later crossed over to RT, so that altogether 37 participants performed reading training. Patients trained at home on a PC for 6 weeks. RS was assessed during reading printed paragraphs of text aloud. Using a scanning laser ophthalmoscope, we examined fixation stability and preferred retinal locus (PRL) for fixating a cross, as well as PRL and eye movements during reading single words. We assessed emotional status by Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), cognitive status by dementia detection test (DemTect) and QoL by Impact of Vision Impairment (IVI) profile. Visual acuity and magnification requirement were examined by standard procedures. All variables were measured before and after placebo training, before and after RT, and after 6 weeks without training (follow-up). Results RS improved significantly in the P-RTG during RT, but not in the CG during placebo training. The effect remained stable at follow-up. Fixation performance and eye movement variables did not change. Emotional status (MADRS) improved in P-RTG during RT and showed a significant difference of the change of scores between the 2 groups. Complete IVI scores improved significantly during RT and remained stable. Conclusion The results indicate that patients with AMD, who already use magnifying aids, benefit from additional RT and that it can contribute in preventing depression and improve QoL. Trial registration The study was registered at the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00015609).

Cognitive Leisure Activity and All-cause Mortality in Older Adults: A 4-Year Community-based Cohort

“…In addition, our results indicated a potential bene cial effect of CLAIs on reduced mortality risk among participants who were diagnosed with cardiovascular or metabolic disease (HR = 0.67, P = 0.025 in univariate analysis, HR = 0.69, P = 0.054 in multivariate analysis, Figure 3). Accumulating evidence has indicated that leisure activity, including watching TV 20 , internet use 21 and reading 22,23 , can make a signi cant contribution to overall life satisfaction and psychological well-being 24,25 , which is subsequently associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease 61,62 . Thus, a potential pathway by which cognitive leisure activity in uences all-cause mortality may be through reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease or reducing the effect of cardiovascular disease on mortality.…”

“…It is projected that, by 2050, 1.6 million or 43% of older adult deaths will be due to dementia and Alzheimer's disease 19 . In addition, accumulating evidence has indicated that leisure activity, including watching TV 20 , internet use 21 and reading 22,23 , can make a signi cant contribution to overall life satisfaction [24][25][26] , which has been identi ed as an important risk factor for mortality in older people [27][28][29] . Recently, a prospective cohort study indicated that playing cards or mahjong and reading were association with lower all-cause mortality in the Chinese oldest-old population 30 .…”

Mental Activity and All-Cause Mortality in Older Adults: A 4-Year Community-Based Cohort

“…3). Accumulating evidence have indicated that leisure activity, including watching TV 20 , internet use 21 and reading 22,23 , can make a signi cant contribution to overall life satisfaction and psychological well-being 24,25 , which in turn is associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease 58,59 . Thus, a potential pathway by which mental activity in uence all-cause mortality may be through reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease or reducing the effect of cardiovascular disease on mortality.…”

Correlation of Macular Sensitivity Measures and Visual Acuity to Vision-related Quality of Life in Patients with Age-related Macular Degeneration

“…We chose to correlate macular subfields with the near-distance activities sub-score of the VFQ because the inability of patients with AMD to maintain steady fixation is strongly associated with slower reading [26]. This particular aspect of visual function can affect quality of life in patients with AMD [27].…”