A woman exercises and walks her dog, running. – PIXABAY – ARCHIVO
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MADRID, 3 Jul. (EUROPEAN PRESS) –
Exercise can slow or prevent the development of macular degeneration and may benefit other common causes of vision loss, such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, according to a new mouse study by the University of Virginia School of Medicine. (U.S).
This work, published in the journal ‘Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science’, found that exercise reduced harmful overgrowth of blood vessels in the eyes of laboratory mice by up to 45 percent. This tangle of blood vessels is a key contributor to macular degeneration and various other eye diseases.
The study represents the first experimental evidence showing that exercise can reduce the severity of macular degeneration, one of the leading causes of vision loss, scientists report.
“It has long been questioned whether maintaining a healthy lifestyle can delay or prevent the development of macular degeneration. The way that question has historically been answered has been through surveys of people, asking them what they eat and how much exercise That’s basically the most sophisticated study that’s ever been done. The problem with that is that people are notoriously poorly self-informant … and that can lead to conclusions that may or may not be true. [estudio] offers solid evidence from the lab for the first time, “says research leader Bradley Gelfand.
The research found that the barrier to receiving the benefits of exercise was relatively low – more exercise did not mean more benefit. “Mice are similar to people in that they do a spectrum of exercise. As long as they had a wheel and ran on it, there would be a benefit. The benefit they got is saturated with low levels of exercise,” Gelfand argues.
An initial test comparing mice that exercised voluntarily against those that didn’t, found that exercise reduced blood vessel overgrowth by 45 percent. A second test, to confirm the results, found a 32 percent reduction.
Scientists are not sure how exercise prevents blood vessel overgrowth. There could be a variety of factors at play, including increased blood flow to the eyes.
The onset of vision loss is often associated with decreased exercise. “It is well known that as people’s eyes and vision deteriorate, their tendency to engage in physical activity also decreases. It can be challenging to study in older people … How much of that is one cause of the other ? “asks the scientist.
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