(PreserveMacForte.com) A study reveals that genetics play a role in 75% of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) cases, reported News Fix recently.
According to the article, around 50 million people worldwide are dealing with AMD, which happens to be the primary cause of vision loss in the older segment of the population. A team of researchers affiliated with the Columbia University Medical Center found that three out of four AMD cases are influenced by variations in a couple of different genes.
The first one is called Factor H. It codes that a protein that plays a role in how immune reaction to inflammation. The second one is called Factor B. It has similarities buy behaves in a different way. According to the article, the researchers are of the opinion that certain variants of the two genes may safeguard from AMD. However, they did not discover these in their genetic analysis involving 1,300 participants. Rather, they discovered variants that appeared to facilitate the progression of the eye ailment. The article added that it is rare to discover a genetic influence in such a high number — three in four — of disease cases.
According to numerous reports, age-related macular degeneration patients can ultimately have difficulty with tasks such as driving cars, reading booking and magazines, watching television, and even recognizing the faces of friends and family. There are two kinds of AMD, dry and wet. The wet variety is the more serious of the two. If not diagnosed on time, it can lead to permanent vision loss. Only about 10% of people who get dry AMD end up getting wet AMD, which occurs when irregular blood vessels form and leak blood and other liquid that damage the macula.
Other reports have pointed out that there are things people can do to reduce their odds of getting AMD. Eating leafy green vegetables, consuming fish with Omega-3 fatty acids, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding hypertension and high cholesterol, and steering away from smoking cigarettes can help. It’s also important that people make an appointment for an eye exam at least once a year. Doing these things can help people to lower their AMD risks or to at least slow down progression of the disease.
Reference: http://www.newsfix.ca/2013/07/24/genes-play-important-role-in-macular-degeneration/