
- About 200 million people worldwide live with macular degeneration linked to the age of vision loss (AMD).
- Among the two types of dmla, most people have a dry dmla.
- Previous research shows that there are several DML risk factors, including non -modifiable factors such as genetics and modifiable factors such as eating a healthy diet.
- A new study has revealed that an instant genetics and coffee consumption coffee may increase a person’s risk of developing a dry DMLA.
Of the Two types of AMDMost people have a dry dmla, where damage to the eyes macule – an area located at the rear of retina – occurs naturally with age. The damp dmla occurs when abnormal blood vessels develop at the back of the eye, injuring the macula.
“DMLA is a main cause of vision loss among the elderly in developed countries”, Siwei LiuMD, researcher of the Ophthalmology Department of the Shiyan Taihe Hospital of the University of Medicine in Hubei in China, said Medical news today.
“As there is currently no remedy, the identification of new modifiable factors is crucial to slow the progression of the disease, preserve vision and improve the quality of life of patients,” added Liu.
Liu is the main author of a new study published in the journal
For this study, the researchers first obtained data on coffee consumption for more than 500,000 participants in the British Biobank Summary statistics on association studies on the genome scale (GWAS). Scientists have burst in the participants decaffeinatedCoffee consumption groups on the ground and instantaneous.
Scientists have also obtained dry and humid DMLA data for adults aged 50 and over Finngen Gwas data set.
“Coffee is one of the most consumed drinks in the world and is rich in polyphenols And antioxidants This can offer neuroprotective effects, “said Liu.
“At the same time, growing evidence shows that genetics influences food preferences. The study of genetic predisposition to coffee consumption and its relationship with the risk of AMD can help reveal potential causal links between food and eye diseases,” noted the study author.
At the conclusion of the study, the researchers identified a overlap between the genetic arrangement of a person to drink instant coffee and their risk of dry dmla.
In addition, in this genetic correlation, scientists have found that the consumption of instant coffee, compared to other types of coffee consumption, increased the dry risk of DMLA by seven.
“This genetic overlap suggests that there may be shared organic paths or metabolic mechanisms connecting preference for instant coffee with the risk of developing a dry DML,” said Liu. “It provides new information on AMD pathogenesis and offers potential orientation for personalized prevention strategies, such as lifestyle interventions informed of genes.”
The researchers said they had found no association between coffee consumption and the risk of damp damp.
For the next stages of this research, Liu said that she and her team planned to validate the association in independent populations and conduct functional studies to explore whether the metabolic pathways linked to instant coffee consumption are directly involved in the AMD physiopathology.
“We also aim to carry out longitudinal cohort analyzes to clarify the causal relationship between the supply of coffee and the progression of DMLA,” added Liu.
Mnt had the opportunity to speak with David I. GeffenOD, FAAO, director of optometric services and refractive to the new vision of Gordon Schanzlin at Jolla, California, about this study.
“This study finds an interesting association with instant coffee and DMLA,” said Geffen, who was not involved in research. “With our population living longer, AMD is one of the main disorders of the elderly. Any change in lifestyle to minimize this risk is well worth exploring. ”
“With the sharp increase in the AMD observed in (United States), it is important to continue with vital research in this area,” he added. “The costs associated with the management and treatment of patients with AMD, it is worth finding ways to minimize the risk associated with this disease.”
Geffen said that he found this research interesting, he would need to see a more direct association before he tells patients not to drink instant coffee.
“Questions like how instantly have been consumed by people with AMD. In addition, is the social economic class associated with this? Is there a lifestyle associated with the risk in these people? It is far too early to make great assumptions about unstable coffee consumption. ”
Mnt also spoke with Benjamin BertMD, an ophthalmologist certified on the board of directors at the Memorialcare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California, about this research, which shared that this fascinated it in two different ways.
“First of all, the study demonstrates one of the future orientations of the medicine we have heard of: the implementation of care based on someone’s specific DNA risk profile,” said Bert, who was not involved in research. “In this study, they found that people have a higher risk of dry DMLA with certain genetic markers and instant coffee consumption.”
“This brings the second fascinating part of the study, food like medicine,” he continued.
“More and more, we make how our food and drink choices can have an impact on our overall health. This study once again indicates the dangers processed foodsLike dehydrated instant coffee, compared to its more natural form of infused coffee, which had no additional risk. »»
– Benjamin Bert, MD
“With additional research, it would be advantageous to know other foods that could be risks for these patients,” added Bert. “Is instant coffee the only food risk?” Does the conclusion of this study apply to all highly processed foods? ”