(http://www.PreserveMacForte.com) Genetics appear to play a critical part in determining whether or not people get age-related macular degeneration (AMD), reported News FIX recently.
The article noted that AMD results when the the retina is damaged and starts to hamper proper vision. According to the article, there has been uncertainty as to what the link between genes and environment is in AMD. However, a research team affiliated with Harvard Medical School is now providing some much-needed info with a study focusing on twins born between the ranges of 1917 to 1927.
According to the article, the researchers discovered that in a group consisting of 840 twins, there were 331 that had no symptoms of AMD, 241 had early symptoms, 162 had the eye ailment in its intermediate stage and 106 had advanced age related macular degeneration. The researchers compared the instances of AMD between non-identical and identical twins. Since identical twins share genetic similarities, the conventional think is that a disease that impacted one might also impact the other, noted the article. The article, however, noted that there is still work to be done to find out which genes could be involved in the eye disease. More research will have to be conducted to find out, according to the article.
Separately, research has shown that AMD is an ailment that generally impacts older people. While this is the case, there are lots of things people can do to lower their odds of coming down with AMD. Eating leafy green vegetables, exercising regularly, staying away from smoking, avoiding hypertension and maintaining a healthy cholesterol level are all important considerations when it comes to safeguarding eye health.
Reference: http://www.newsfix.ca/2013/06/26/genetics-important-in-age-related-macular-degeneration/