Pain in The Eyes can Indicate Pain in The Brain

The study researchers found, patients with retinopathy or mild vascular disease that damages the eye's retina, risk also damage blood vessels in the brain that can affect thinking and memory skills. The study was published online on March 14, 2012, the American Academy of Neurology.

"The problem with the small blood vessels in the eyes can be a sign that there are problems with blood vessels in the brain that can lead to cognitive impairment," said study author Mary Haan, Dr. PH, MPH, of the University of California, San Francisco.

"These findings could be very useful. Due to the simple screening of the eye we can give an early indication that a person may have problems with their health and brain function," said Hann.

In research Yany lasted for 10 years, researchers enrolled 511 women with an average age of 69 years. Each year, the women participants follow a series of cognitive tests and thought processes. For four years, the researchers conducted eye health examination, and during the eight years of the participants also underwent brain scans.

Test results showed that a total of 39 women (7.6 percent) had retinopathy. Women with retinopathy average have lower scores while undergoing cognitive testing than women who did not have retinopathy. In fact, female participants with retinopathy also have more area damage small blood vessels in their brains.

They are also at risk of ischemic lesions by 47 percent in the brain blood vessels as a whole and 68 percent in the parietal lobe lesions. The lesions are often associated with vascular disease and stroke, is believed to be caused by hypertension.