Cholesterol And Diabetes Drugs Might Reduce Deteriorating Vision in Old Age: Study

Cholesterol and diabetes drugs might reduce deteriorating vision in old age: Study.  

According to Express, many individuals in their 50s and 60s suffer from age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It affects the middle part of the vision and becomes fuzzy and distorted. People might have difficulty seeing objects in the middle of the image as it worsens.  

According to the National Eye Institute, a person suffering from age-related macular degeneration (AMD) gradually loses central vision. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in those aged 55 and over, according to the National Eye Institute (a credible academic resource).  

A person’s chance of developing age-related macular degeneration is influenced by various variables, including genetics and environmental factors (AMD). Tobacco usage, a sedentary lifestyle, and chronic inflammation are all potential culprits.  

Despite decades of study, however, there are no viable therapies for AMD.  

Many drugs have been studied for their potential influence on the development of age-related macular degeneration. Examples include anti-inflammatory medicines, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and diabetes treatments (AMD).  

To confuse matters further, numerous research has produced seemingly contradictory results. So it’s unclear if these medicines increase the risk of AMD.  

A recent meta-analysis of the literature on medical therapy for AMD was conducted. Those who ingested LLDs and used diabetes medications had a decreased chance of developing AMD. 

Researchers from the European Eye Epidemiology group published their findings in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.  

Despite decades of research, no drugs have been produced to prevent or slow the course of AMD, underscoring the need for more research and novel prevention or therapeutic approaches.  

All systemic medications that have been found to impact disease-causing pathways have been investigated for their potential effects on AMD.  

Metformin, an anti-diabetic medication, has been proven to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, whereas lipid-lowering drugs (LLD) alter lipid metabolism and accumulation. Levodopa (L-Dopa) has been demonstrated to boost RPE metabolism.  

Studies have employed a petite sample size or relied on self-reported AMD as an endpoint, resulting in inconsistent results.   

Based on what is known recently about AMD, it is believed that drugs used to manage high cholesterol or diabetes may help reduce risk.  

However, the researchers did warn of many limitations in their findings.  

Dr. Mauschitz claims that because their study was cross-sectional, no inferences concerning cause and effect can be formed.  

He added that the study’s findings might have been overstated due to a selection bias (i.e., survival bias) of healthy people, as people with poor general health might have died before participating. The researchers also stated that because the study was limited to Caucasians, the findings may not apply to other populations.