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Discovery Medicine Jan 2010Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the major cause of vision loss after age 50 in the United States. Although an important association of the complement cascade...
Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the major cause of vision loss after age 50 in the United States. Although an important association of the complement cascade with AMD has recently been made, we still do not understand the pathogenesis of the disease. AMD is characterized by loss of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) within the macula (i.e., the center of the retina), and in turn, loss of the overlying foveal photoreceptors. Since RPE and photoreceptors can both be generated from stem cells using cell culture, there is hope for future cell replacement therapy. But, aging changes in Bruch's membrane, the scaffold on which the RPE are anchored, may complicate such therapy, and require surgical repair of Bruch's membrane to provide a suitable environment for cell survival and function. We have referred to such a multipronged approach of surgical reconstruction of the macular architecture in conjunction with cell transplantation as Maculoplasty.
Topics: Bruch Membrane; Humans; Macular Degeneration; Middle Aged; Retinal Pigment Epithelium; Stem Cell Transplantation
PubMed: 20102679
DOI: No ID Found -
Experimental Biology and Medicine... Dec 2018Retinal photoreceptors are the primary target of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) which is the leading cause of severe vision loss and legal blindness. An... (Review)
Review
Retinal photoreceptors are the primary target of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) which is the leading cause of severe vision loss and legal blindness. An objective method for functional assessment of photoreceptor physiology can benefit early detection and better treatment evaluation of AMD and other eye diseases that are known to cause photoreceptor dysfunctions. This article summarizes in vitro study of IOS mechanisms and in vivo demonstration of IOS imaging of intact animals. Further development of the functional IOS imaging may provide a revolutionary solution to achieve objective assessment of human photoreceptors.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Macular Degeneration; Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate; Tomography, Optical Coherence
PubMed: 30482040
DOI: 10.1177/1535370218816517 -
Ophthalmology. Retina Oct 2022
Topics: Humans; Macular Degeneration; Retinal Drusen
PubMed: 35598859
DOI: 10.1016/j.oret.2022.05.014 -
Molecular Interventions Oct 2010Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of visual impairment among the elderly in developed countries, and its prevalence is thus increasing as... (Review)
Review
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of visual impairment among the elderly in developed countries, and its prevalence is thus increasing as the population ages; however, treatment options remain limited because the etiology and pathogenesis of AMD are incompletely defined. Recently, much progress has been made in gene discovery and mechanistic studies, which clearly indicate that AMD involves the interaction of multiple genetic and environmental factors. The identification of genes that have a substantial impact on the risk for AMD is not only facilitating the diagnosis and screening of populations at risk but is also elucidating key molecular pathways of pathogenesis. Pharmacogenetic studies of treatment responsiveness among patients with the "wet" form of AMD are increasingly proving to be clinically relevant; pharmacogenetic approaches hold great promise for both identifying patients with the best chance for vision recovery as well as tailoring individualized therapies.
Topics: Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Humans; Macular Degeneration; Risk Factors
PubMed: 21045241
DOI: 10.1124/mi.10.5.4 -
Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine Dec 2003Any patient age 50 or older with distorted vision or vision loss may have age-related macular degeneration and should be immediately referred to an ophthalmologist.... (Review)
Review
Any patient age 50 or older with distorted vision or vision loss may have age-related macular degeneration and should be immediately referred to an ophthalmologist. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential to preserve the current level of vision. We outline risk factors, clinical signs, what happens to the retina, and what treatments are currently available, as well as recommendations about vitamin and mineral supplementation.
Topics: Age Factors; Antioxidants; Humans; Macular Degeneration; Middle Aged; Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures; Photochemotherapy; Risk Factors; United States
PubMed: 14686682
DOI: 10.3949/ccjm.70.12.1017 -
Nutrients May 2022Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a serious degenerative disease affecting the eyes, and is the main cause of severe vision loss among people >55 years of age in... (Review)
Review
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a serious degenerative disease affecting the eyes, and is the main cause of severe vision loss among people >55 years of age in developed countries. Its onset and progression have been associated with several genetic and lifestyle factors, with diet appearing to play a pivotal role in the latter. In particular, dietary eating patterns rich in plant foods have been shown to lower the risk of developing the disease, and to decrease the odds of progressing to more advanced stages in individuals already burdened with early AMD. We systematically reviewed the literature to analyse the relationship between the adherence to a Mediterranean diet, a mainly plant-based dietary pattern, and the onset/progression of AMD. Eight human observational studies were analysed. Despite some differences, they consistently indicate that higher adherence to a Mediterranean eating pattern lowers the odds of developing AMD and decreases the risk of progression to more advanced stages of the disease, establishing the way for preventative measures emphasizing dietary patterns rich in plant-foods.
Topics: Diet, Mediterranean; Eye; Feeding Behavior; Humans; Life Style; Macular Degeneration; Middle Aged
PubMed: 35631175
DOI: 10.3390/nu14102028 -
Nutrients Jan 2023Mineral element supplements are widely used in the older adult population. However, little is known of their impact on the progression of age-related macular...
BACKGROUND
Mineral element supplements are widely used in the older adult population. However, little is known of their impact on the progression of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). The aim of this study was to examine the association between dietary micronutrients and ARMD in older adults.
METHODS
We enrolled 5227 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 2005-2008) in this cross-sectional study. ARMD was evaluated using an ophthalmic digital imaging system and digital camera. Mineral element consumption was collected using a 24-hour dietary recall. The association between mineral element use and the presence of ARMD was determined by multivariable logistic regression.
RESULTS
After adjusting for relevant variables, dietary calcium was negatively associated with ARMD (OR: 680, 95%CI: 0.482-0.960). In contrast to dietary form, serum concentration of calcium was not associated with ARMD. Moreover, increased dietary calcium was associated with reduced ARMD (OR: 0.684, 95%CI: 0.468-1.000).
CONCLUSION
A lower consumption of dietary calcium was significantly associated with a higher risk of ARMD. Further longitudinal studies are necessary to explore these findings.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Calcium, Dietary; Nutrition Surveys; Cross-Sectional Studies; Macular Degeneration; Minerals
PubMed: 36771377
DOI: 10.3390/nu15030671 -
Turkish Journal of Ophthalmology Feb 2022To evaluate fixation stability and characteristics of the preferred retinal locus (PRL) in patients with advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
OBJECTIVES
To evaluate fixation stability and characteristics of the preferred retinal locus (PRL) in patients with advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Sixty-three eyes of 63 patients with AMD who presented to the low vision unit were included in this prospective study. Sociodemographic characteristics, eye examination findings, and reading performance results with the Minnesota Low Vision Reading test were evaluated. Microperimetry was used to evaluate fixation stability and PRL characteristics.
RESULTS
There was unstable fixation in 68% of the eyes, relative stable fixation in 27%, and stable fixation in 5%. The mean PRL-foveal distance was 5.15°±3.31° (range 0.75°-14.2°). PRL-foveal distance was greater in cases with unstable fixation than cases with stable fixation (p=0.023). Distance of the PRL from the lesion margin was not associated with absolute scotoma size or fixation stability (p=0.315, p=0.095, respectively). PRLs were most frequently located in the nasal quadrant (31%), followed by the superior quadrant (26%) of the retina. There was no significant relationship between PRL location and fixation stability (p=0.088). Fixation stability was significantly associated with reading speed (p=0.003).
CONCLUSION
In advanced AMD, PRL-foveal distance is an important factor in fixation stability. Knowing the factors that affect fixation stability may be important in determining low vision rehabilitation strategies for these patients because of the strong association between fixation stability and reading speed.
Topics: Fixation, Ocular; Humans; Macular Degeneration; Prospective Studies; Retina; Vision, Low; Visual Acuity; Visual Field Tests
PubMed: 35196836
DOI: 10.4274/tjo.galenos.2021.27985 -
American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease... May 2014Several previous studies showed that age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) share common risk factors and histopathology changes, and there...
Several previous studies showed that age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) share common risk factors and histopathology changes, and there is epidemiological evidence linking AMD to cognitive impairment. We tested this theory in 51 patients with late-stage AMD and 24 controls by analyzing their neuropsychological profiles. In this study, data showed that patients affected by late-stage AMD have a worse global cognitive function than those of the controls and, in particular, show worse performances in memory tasks. Moreover, patients affected by the dry form of AMD are significantly impaired in executive functions in addition to memory. Data support the hypothesis of a possible association between AMD and cognitive impairment. In particular, patients affected by the dry form of AMD may be at greater risk of developing subsequent dementia.
Topics: Aged; Cognition Disorders; Comorbidity; Executive Function; Female; Geographic Atrophy; Humans; Macular Degeneration; Male; Memory Disorders
PubMed: 24370621
DOI: 10.1177/1533317513517032 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jul 2022Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye disease causing damage to the macular region of the retina where most of the photoreceptors responsible for central... (Review)
Review
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye disease causing damage to the macular region of the retina where most of the photoreceptors responsible for central visual acuity are located. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small single-stranded non-coding RNA molecules that negatively regulate genes by silent post-transcriptional gene expressions. Previous studies have shown that changes in specific miRNAs are involved in the pathogenesis of eye diseases, including AMD. Altered expressions of miRNAs are related to disturbances of regulating oxidative stress, inflammation, angiogenesis, apoptosis and phagocytosis, which are known factors in the pathogenesis of AMD. Moreover, dysregulation of miRNA is involved in drusen formation. Thus, miRNAs may be used as potential molecular biomarkers for the disease and, furthermore, tailoring therapeutics to particular disturbances in miRNAs may, in the future, offer hope to prevent irreversible vision loss. In this review, we clarify the current state of knowledge about the influence of miRNA on the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of AMD. Our study material consisted of publications, which were found in PubMed, Google Scholar and Embase databases using "Age-related macular degeneration", "miRNA", "AMD biomarkers", "miRNA therapeutics" and "AMD pathogenesis" as keywords. Paper search was limited to articles published from 2011 to date. In the section "Retinal, circulating and vitreous body miRNAs found in human studies", we limited the search to studies with patients published in 2016-2021.
Topics: Biomarkers; Humans; Inflammation; Macular Degeneration; MicroRNAs; Retina
PubMed: 35887109
DOI: 10.3390/ijms23147761