Fewer adults in the U.S. are developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), possibly because of healthier lifestyles, researchers report in this month's Archives of Ophthalmology. AMD is an eye disease that gradually makes it difficult to see fine details, such as numbers on a watch or letters on a street sign. It is a leading cause of vision loss among people aged 60 and older, according to the National Eye Institute. Researchers reviewed data from the 2005-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to determine the overall number of Americans with AMD. 6.5% of middle-aged and older adults in the U.S. had signs of the eye disease in 2005-2008. The findings are a stark contrast to an earlier NHANES analysis from 1998 to1994, which estimated that AMD developed in 9.4% of Americans. Study authors say lower rates of smoking, improved blood pressure management, and an increase in healthier diets and exercise programs may have contributed to the decline in AMD among older adults.
Bonnie - could it also be that more Americans are taking a multivitamin/mineral, providing the extra ACES plus zinc, selenium, and even lutein needed to reduce risk?
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
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