Dr. Grossman’s Blog

In an analysis of the genes of more than 1,000 patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), an international team of scientists discovered a strong association between the vision problem and the presence of a new gene.

The new gene connection is with hepatic lipase gene LIPC, a critical enzyme in the metabolism of high-density lipoprotein (HDL). The study also noted strong associations between advanced AMD and other single nucleotide polymorphisms in the same lipid pathway, but the other finding showed a much stronger, genome-wide significance.

Abstract Title: Genome-Wide Association Study of Advanced Age-Related Macular Degeneration Identifies a New Susceptibility Locus in the Lipid Metabolism Pathway, Hepatic Lipase (LIPC)

For information on natural ways to help preserve vision for those with macular degeneration, Click Here

Many research studies show the value of supplementing with lutein and zeaxanthin in helping to preserve vision for those with macular degeneration. Additional studies show mesozeaxanthin (a member of the lutein family), as an essential nutrient for helping preserve vision for those with macular degeneration, used in the eyes as an antioxidant in the center of the macular where our detailed vision comes from.

The referenced study is one of 3 completed to date demonstrating the value of supplementing with this mesozeaxanthin.

Nutrition & Metabolism 2007, 4:12doi:10.1186/1743-7075-4-12

For more information on related research, go to http://www.naturaleyecare.com/studies_bydisease.asp?s_num=8&disease=Macular+Degeneration

Click on the link below for a short inteview done by Leslie Degner, RN, BSN with Dr. Grossman regarding eye exercises related to healthy vision and macular degeneration:

http://www.webrn-maculardegeneration.com/free-eye-exercises.html

Editor’s Note: For Dr. Grossman’s free eye exercise e-booklet, go to http://www.naturaleyecare.com/eye-sample.asp

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin have successfully grown light-sensing retinal cells from human skin cells. 

The ability to grow retinal cells may someday be used to treat degenerative eye diseases such as macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa by enabling doctors to repair damage to the retina with new cells generated from the patient’s skin.

Scientists at the University of Wisconsin manipulated human skin cells to act like embryonic stem cells, which can be used to grow into any tissue in the body. 

The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, indicates that the ability to create human retinal cells helps researchers better understand how eyes develop, enabling them to better treat genetic eye conditions.

SOURCE:  Modeling early retinal development with human embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells, Meyer, et al, Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2009/08/24/0905245106.abstract