According to recent studies, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a clinical risk factor for increased risks of infection and death.
Furthermore, it has been reported that AMD increases the risk of severe complications of COVID-19 infection, including respiratory failure and death.
In fact, AMD patients have a higher risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes than patients with Type 2 diabetes or obesity.
Scientists from Boston University have found a novel association between AMD and COVID-19, hypothesizing that the two diseases share common genetic risk factors.
The researchers found the PDGFB gene, which encodes a platelet-derived growth factor (Pdgf) that plays a role in the formation of new blood vessels and is involved in the abnormal blood vessel changes that occur in AMD.
The team did a genome-wide search for variants that are jointly associated with AMD and each of three COVID-19 outcomes, using large genetic datasets containing tens of thousands of people.
They found that more severe COVID-19 outcomes were linked to AMD, likely arising from genetic predisposition to dysfunction involving complement proteins, as well as with a higher level of Pdgf in blood.
These findings add to the body of evidence for the increased risk of infection and death from COVID-19 among AMD patients.
The study suggests that lowering PDGFB gene activity and serum PDGF concentration may reduce the severity of COVID-19, particularly among older people.
It is important to note that a diagnosis of eye disease can give trauma and lead to depression and dementia. Therefore, it is crucial to read studies about how to treat depression and dementia from the eyes.
In addition, recent studies suggest that mouthwashes may suppress the COVID-19 virus, and results show that zinc could help reduce COVID-19 infection risk.
The study, conducted by Lindsay A. Farrer et al, has been published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine.
If you care about eye health, please read studies that diabetes and high blood pressure can predict blinding eye disease, and 7 habits that help prevent vision loss in older people.
For more information about COVID, please see recent studies about new evidence on rare blood clots after COVID-19 vaccination, and results showing zinc could help reduce COVID-19 infection risk.
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