In the United States, more than two million people are affected by age-related macular deficiency. In France, they are a million. Researchers at Yale University have identified which cells are involved in this cause of blindness.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the main causes of blindness in the elderly. If in the past researchers have already discovered nearly three dozen genes playing a role in the disease, we did not yet know where the eye lesions were. A scientific team from Yale University have identified three types of cells that contribute to the degeneration of the macula, located in the central part of the retina. Their study is published in the journal NatureCommunications.
The three types of cells identified by the researchers are glial cells, which form the environment of neurons, vascular cells, responsible for supplying blood to the retina and cone cells, photoreceptors located in the retina which allow vision in color by day.
There are not enough effective treatments today
“This study helps identify cell types that can be studied closely to develop new therapies,” said Brian Hafler, assistant professor of ophthalmology and vision sciences and pathology at Yale. Even today, there are not enough effective long-term treatments. For the wet form of the disease (characterized by the growth of abnormal blood vessels under the macula), the patient must receive regular injections. For its dry form (characterized by the accumulation of yellow deposits in the macula), there is no treatment, apart from ocular vitamin supplements.
The incidence of AMD tends to decrease
If this new study gives hope for the development of future treatments, another study, published about two years ago, showed that the number of people with AMD decreased between each generation. According to the researchers, this decrease is explained by progress. The modern environment will be cleaner, which would have a positive effect on our eyes.
.
