The drug, L-DOPA that is prescribed for Parkinson’s patients was found to delay the onset of age-related macular degeneration in adults.
A drug used to treat Parkinson’s disease may be able to prevent a common form of blindness among older people, says a new research. Researchers discovered a biological connection between darker pigmented eyes, which are known to be resistant to Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and increased levels of a chemical called L-DOPA in those eyes.
‘Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of severe vision loss in people over age 60. It destroys the central portion of the retina known as the macula, impairing central vision.
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L-DOPA is frequently prescribed for Parkinson's patients. They reported that patients receiving L-DOPA were significantly less likely to get AMD, and when they did, its onset was significantly delayed. Senior author Brian McKay of the University of Arizona said that rather than looking at what might cause AMD, they instead wondered why certain people were protected from AMD.
BrightFocus president Stacy Pagos Haller said that this exciting breakthrough showed the power of scientific discovery to give hope to millions of people across the nation and the world. The study is published in the American Journal of Medicine.
Source-ANI