Center focuses on cure for one of leading causes of blindness
JULY 10, 2007-- A group of 3,000 nuns in Ireland might hold a clue that could help scientists here and elsewhere find a cure for age-related macular degeneration.
Dr. Michael Boulton, director of UTMB’s Age-Related Macular Degeneration Center, is working jointly with scientists at other universities to solve the riddle of this disease. In addition to the UTMB Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, the AMD Center is collaborating with the University of Florida, Duke University, Queens University (Belfast, U.K.), Cardiff University (U.K.), Jagiellonian University (Krakow, Poland) and many more. “This is truly an international effort to combat AMD,” Boulton said. AMD is the leading cause of blindness for U.S. citizens over the age of 70.
The first of the four studies is being conducted in collaboration with Queens University in Belfast, Ireland. The research focuses on the various causes of AMD within a population of 3,000 nuns in Ireland, all of whom are at least 65 years-old and have been in a convent setting for more than 25 years. There is anecdotal evidence that these nuns suffer from AMD to a lesser extent than the general public. “If they are truly less likely to get AMD, we believe that by looking at the nuns’ lifestyles, environmental exposures and genetics that we may be able to isolate the root cause for AMD,” Boulton said.
Another study, this one in collaboration with the University of Florida, focuses on the ability of adult bone marrow stem cells to repair and regenerate the retina. Researchers have already used this approach to successfully regain visual function in blind mice. According to Boulton, this research offers “fantastic potential” for repair of retinal degeneration associated with AMD as well as for prevention of future damage.
With new information, the AMD Center hopes to find new and better ways of treating the disease, which can mean slowing its progress, reversing its effects, and ultimately, preventing the disease from striking new victims. There are currently 1.75 million Americans living with the condition. As the population ages, the number of people who develop AMD is expected to increase proportionally. It is estimated that by 2020, there could be over 2.5 million adults in the United States with this disabling condition.