New research has revealed that the trial drug retinylamine may slow the onset of age-related macular degeneration, it has been noted.
Those seeking active living advice may be interested to learn that, according to Eurekalert, the disease is a leading cause of the loss of vision among Americans aged 60 or over.
However, the early trials by the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine – the results of which are published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry – found that the rate of progression of the illness may be slowed.
Traditionally, patients with age-related macular degeneration do not receive treatment until towards the end of the disease.
However, in the future retinylamine may potentially be able to slow the rate of progression of the condition.
Co-author of the study Krzysztof Palczewski said: "Now we have the potential to intervene in the middle of the disease’s advancement so we can prevent rapid degeneration of the eye."
It is estimated that eight million US seniors are at high risk from developing age-related macular degeneration and of these, 1.3 million will see it advance within five years.
The disease begins by damaging the retina and so destroying the ability for sharp and focused sight.
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