Age related Macular Degeneration Risk Factors

Age related Macular Degeneration Risk Factors....

It has always been an accepted fact of aging that vision would deteriorate over the years, but recent research into the causes of vision loss point to some promising strategies for reducing the risk of developing the most common cause of vision loss among older adults - Age Related Macular Degeneration.

By reducing the age related macular degeneration risk factors that may cause this eye condition, you can decrease your risk and increase the chances of slowing its progression by as much as 40%.

What is Age Related Macular Degeneration and what are the causes of Macular Degeneration

The macula is a tiny area in the center of the retina that is responsible for distinguishing detail in what the eye sees.

It has a high concentration of pigmentation, made up largely of two antioxidant nutrients - lutein and zeaxanthin. As we age, the macula naturally thins and becomes more susceptible to damage.

Dry age related macular degeneration accounts for nearly 90% of all cases.

Granular deposits and scarring form on the underside of the macula, blotting out areas of vision. The symptoms include blurring of vision, difficulty distinguishing details and interpreting straight lines as curved or wavy.

Age Related Macular Degeneration Risk Factors

While dry age related macular degeneration seldom causes total blindness, it can reduce usable sight to little more than peripheral vision and rob you of your ability to drive and read.

There is currently no accepted treatment for dry age related macular degeneration, but recognizing and avoiding the age related macular degeneration risk factors associated with its onset can help prevent it.

The second most common form of age related macular degeneration is known as 'wet macular degeneration'.

In this type, accounting for approximately 10% of all cases, tiny capillaries increase in the macula, blocking usable vision. While there are some surgical treatments for wet macular degeneration, the success rate is low, and the rate of recurrence of symptoms is as high as 60%.

What causes age related macular degeneration? Scientists don't like to point to specific causes, or make definitive statements that X causes Y. However, in the case of age related macular degeneration risk factors, numerous studies have identified certain things associated with the development of the condition.

For example, some age related macular degenerationrisk factors are believed to include: smoking, a high fat diet, and poor nutrition.

Age Related Macular Degeneration Risk Factors...

In 2001, the National Eye Institute released the findings of a 12 year long study into the risk factors and causes of age related macular degeneratoin.

The study followed 90,000 patients who showed early signs of age related macular degeneration. It weighted various possible risk factors. The findings were hardly surprising to the medical community, which had long suspected that the same things that cause cardiovascular disease also cause age related macular degeneration. Among the significant age related macular degeneration risk factors were:

• Age -- The risk of developing age related macular degeneration increases with age starting at about age 50.

• Gender -- Women are more likely to develop macular degeneration than men.
• Family History -- a genetic predisposition to age related macular degeneration has been noted, though no specific genetic markers have been identified.

Causes of Macular Degeneration....

While each of the above risk factors contribute to the likelihood of developing macular degeneration, the remaining possible causes of age related macular degeneration are within your ability to change positively.

• Smoking are three times more likely to develop advanced age related macular degeneration than non-smokers.

• Diet -- a diet high in fat seems to be a major cause of age related macular degeneration. Participants who ate a diet high in all kinds of fat were 40% more likely to show significant worsening of their condition. Conversely, participants who included at least six servings per week of leafy green vegetables, dark yellow vegetables and other sources of the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin slowed the progression of the disease by over 40%.

Reducing Age Related Macular Degeneration Risk Factors...

Follow the same kind of diet you would normally if you were on a Heart Healthy diet.

Adding fish, especially cold water varieties like tuna, and nuts to your diet can significantly decrease your risk of developing age related macular degeneration.

Add nutritional supplements containing zinc and antioxidants to your daily regimen.

A 2002 study has found that people with AMD who take a simple regimen of antioxidants and high levels of zinc may significantly reduce their risk of advanced AMD.

Those participants taking a combination of antioxidants and zinc reduced their risk of developing advanced AMD by 25 percent and their risk of vision loss by 19 percent.

Researchers recommend consulting your doctor before starting on any regimen that includes regular doses of dietary supplement. If you suspect that you may be at risk for developing age related macular degeneration, see your doctor as soon as possible.

As of now, there is no way to reverse the vision loss associated with macular degeneration, but you can slow or prevent it.

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