Age-related macular degeneration, often called AMD, is one of the most common causes of vision loss in older adults.
In the United States alone, millions of people over the age of 65 are affected by this condition. AMD slowly damages the macula, which is the central part of the retina that allows people to see fine details clearly.
When the macula is damaged, everyday tasks such as reading, driving, or recognising faces become extremely difficult. In severe cases, AMD can lead to permanent blindness in the centre of the visual field. This is why AMD is considered one of the most feared eye conditions among older adults.
For many years, most available treatments have focused only on the late stages of the disease. These treatments can sometimes slow the progression of AMD, but they cannot fully restore lost vision.
This means that by the time AMD is treated, significant damage has often already occurred. Because of this, scientists around the world have been searching for ways to stop the disease much earlier, before the most serious harm is done.
In a recent and important study, researchers from the University of Minnesota Medical School discovered that reducing chronic inflammation in the eye may offer powerful protection against AMD-like damage.
Their findings were published in the scientific journal Cell Death & Disease. Instead of waiting until the disease reached a severe stage, the researchers focused on the early processes that may start the damage in the first place.
Inflammation is a natural response of the body’s immune system. It helps fight infections and heal injuries. However, when inflammation becomes chronic, meaning it continues for a long time, it can start to damage healthy tissues.
This type of long-term inflammation is now believed to play a key role in many age-related diseases, including heart disease, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, and now, possibly, AMD as well. Inside the eye, ongoing inflammation can quietly harm the delicate structures of the retina over many years.
The research team used preclinical models to study what happens when parts of the inflammation process are removed or reduced. They focused on specific components of the “inflammation cascade,” which is a chain reaction inside the body that increases and spreads inflammation.
When they blocked or removed key steps in this process, they noticed something remarkable. Many of the early warning signs of retinal damage simply did not appear.
One of these warning signs is the invasion of immune cells into the subretinal space, an area beneath the retina where healthy cells normally exist in a calm and stable environment. In AMD, this space begins to fill with immune cells as part of an abnormal inflammatory response.
These cells can damage the retina and contribute to vision loss. Another sign is the formation of abnormal deposits under the retina, which are often seen in the early stages of AMD. These deposits, sometimes called drusen, are associated with further damage and worsening of the condition.
By reducing inflammation, the researchers were able to prevent both the buildup of immune cells and the formation of these harmful deposits. This is a crucial discovery because it suggests that if doctors can control inflammation early enough, they may be able to delay or even stop AMD before it becomes severe.
Dr. John Hulleman, an associate professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School and one of the main authors of the study, explained that targeting important parts of the inflammation process has the potential to prevent a range of eye diseases that resemble age-related macular degeneration.
He believes that this work could eventually lead to new treatments that focus on prevention rather than just managing the later stages of the disease.
This research is especially important because AMD currently affects nearly 20 million Americans, and the number is expected to grow as the population ages. Many people may not even realise they have early AMD because symptoms can be very mild at first.
By the time eyesight begins to change noticeably, the damage may already be difficult to reverse. A treatment that could protect the retina before serious symptoms appear would be life-changing for millions of people.
Looking to the future, the research team plans to explore whether similar anti-inflammatory methods could not only prevent AMD but also reverse some of the damage once it has already started.
If scientists can find a safe way to reduce harmful inflammation in human eyes, it may open the door to new therapies that preserve vision and improve quality of life for older adults around the world.
In reviewing and analysing the study’s findings, it becomes clear that this work represents a major shift in how AMD could be addressed. Instead of reacting to damage that has already occurred, this approach focuses on stopping the disease at its roots.
By clearly demonstrating that chronic inflammation is a driving force behind AMD-like changes, the researchers have provided strong evidence that targeting inflammation is a promising strategy for prevention. Although more research is needed in human clinical trials, the study offers real hope that future treatments could protect vision before it is lost.
This discovery also adds to the growing understanding that chronic inflammation plays a central role in many age-related diseases, and controlling it may be one of the keys to healthier aging.
If you care about health, please read studies that vitamin D can help reduce inflammation, and vitamin K could lower your heart disease risk by a third.
For more health information, please see recent studies about new way to halt excessive inflammation, and results showing foods that could cause inflammation.
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