Scientists Discover New Method to Prevent Age Related Vision Loss

Researchers looking at the potential causes of age-related macular degeneration, a disease affecting about 20 million Americans, found that a specific protein could be the key to successfully treating this disease.

A study published June 5 in Science Translational Medicine found that by boosting the protein IRAK-M, protection is provided for the retina, and the disease could be prevented, or the progress of the disease could be arrested.

This newly discovered treatment option can significantly protect against this debilitating condition, Dr. Andrew Dick, ophthalmology professor at the University of Bristol, England, said in a press release. He said this discovery is the first research approach of macular degeneration to analyze genome studies, to identify genes associated with diseases.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease that affects the central vision but rarely causes blindness. It is the most common cause of severe vision loss for people 50 years old and older. AMD can start out with blurred vision, or the persistent sight of a black dot, and progress to the point that the central vision is no longer useful.

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