by Dan Roberts Originally published and updated, April 6, 2013 This is a continuously updated review of research since 2002 on cholesterol and age-related macular degeneration. It presents studies of statin treatment and it introduces recent findings regarding reduction of cholesterol by restoring macrophages. Statins Statins are a type of cholesterol-reducing drug that lower the […]
by Dan Roberts Updated 12/19/12 This is an attempt to shed some light on the issue of aspirin and macular degeneration. In the spring of 2005, a large study introduced some interesting new information about aspirin. The study was done using 39,876 women over a 10-year period in order to clarify the suspected differences between […]
by Dan Roberts (Updated November 10, 2008) Concentration of two cytokines, interleukin-6 and interleukin-8, have been found in two different studies to be potential biomarkers for incidence of dry AMD. Cytokines are signaling compounds in the cells that are involved in a variety of immunological, inflammatory, and infectious diseases. Janice C. Law, MD, and her […]
by Dan Roberts (Updated September 29, 2008) Potentia Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced on March 20, 2007 that it was entering the clinical phase of development of POT-4 for treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). According to the researchers, POT-4, a synthetic peptide, shuts down the complement activation system that can lead to local inflammation, tissue damage […]
Research of interest to the AMD Community as presented at Vision 2008, Montreal, Canada Selected and Summarized by Dan Roberts, Director, MD Support These findings are derived by the referenced authors based solely upon the results of their respective studies. In every case, more research is recommended before final conclusions can be drawn. Pearl #1. […]
Press Release July 18, 2007 Researchers have found a gene variant that can more than double the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The researchers based their findings on studies of patients with AMD (603 from England and 244 from Scotland) who were compared with 701 unaffected people. They found that a variant in the […]
by Dan Roberts February 2006 Dr. Jayakrishna Ambati (University of Kentucky HealthCare physician and Associate Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences), has announced that his lab has identified fragments of two known components of drusen that may be the cause of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) progressing to the […]
by Dan Roberts with additional material by Wendy Strouse Watt, O.D. Originally Published October 26, 2005 Acuity Medical has successfully completed a proof of concept, double-masked trial of its TheraMac™ device for the treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The therapy developed from early studies of microcurrent stimulation, with improvements in the science and […]
by Dan Roberts March 2005 A research team at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine and the University of Utah have developed a mouse model of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Stargardt’s disease. As reported in the online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (March 4, 2005), […]
by Judy Prevost March 4, 2000 (Updated November 2004) Age Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD) is the leading cause of severe vision loss in people over the age of 65. This can be caused by the growth of abnormal blood vessels and neovascularization under the macula, or in the center of the macula, leading to loss […]