Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in Americans over the age of 60, affecting nearly 20 million people. In AMD, visual acuity is reduced in the central area of vision. This means that everyday tasks like driving, reading, and looking at faces become increasingly difficult.
Despite research into ways to slow its progression and medical interventions such as retinal and bionic eye transplants, minimally invasive treatments, and gene therapy, there is no known way to restore lost vision.
Scientists are also investigating the relationship between nutrition and AMD, and macular degeneration specialists recommend adding antioxidants such as lutein and zeaxanthin, omega-3s, zinc, selenium, and vitamins E and C to help maintain eye health. A diet rich in substances is recommended.
Now, a team of researchers have come across an unexpected, off-field link between nutrition and vision loss that mirrors the progression of AMD in the sharp eyes of jumping spiders.
Biologists at the University of Cincinnati (UC) have found that the daring jumping spider is undernourished (Fearless Phedipus), which lost its light-sensitive photoreceptors, the part of the eye that processes visual cues in the central region of vision. known for its
“Just by looking at them, I could tell that some of the photoreceptors were dead,” says UC professor Elke Buschbeck. “It’s the functional equivalent of the macula in our eyes.”
Photoreceptors are essential for responding to light and initiating signal pathways to the brain for information processing. They’re also energy intensive, holding a connection between them and the right fuel, a lack of which could spur AMD.
“Photoreceptors are energetically costly,” Buschbeck said.
“What’s interesting is that there is also evidence that macular degeneration in humans is associated with difficulties in metabolic processes and energy delivery,” she added.
The researchers tested the theory on two groups of spiders: one that was well fed and one that was half-fed. Using a custom-made micro-ophthalmoscope to take pictures of spider retinas, scientists found dark patches by far more common in the eyes of hungry insects, especially in the densest areas of the retina.
The damaged photoreceptors, which look like blacked-out pixels on the screen, seem to have failed due to energy loss, and scientists believe this is between nutrition and cell types that need high energy. We believe this is a potential research avenue to form a stronger link in energy input to sustain function.
Bushbeck Institute/UC
Scientists were quick to warn that it was premature to directly compare vision loss in spiders and humans, but it could present new avenues for the study of a debilitating condition for which there is currently no cure.
“To be able to say anything about how this could help treat people, first a carefully designed study reveals the exact nutrient that may depend on environmental conditions and other factors. UC assistant professor: “However, the fact that nutrient deficiencies can have the effects shown shows the importance of paying close attention to the effects of nutrients.
“Wouldn’t it be wild if a breakthrough in treating macular degeneration in humans was inspired by studies of jumping spiders, which are common in backyards across the United States?” said Nathan Morehouse, associate professor at UC. increase. “Answers to difficult problems can come from unexpected places.”
The study was published in a journal visual studies.
Source: University of Cincinnati
