By Sally Adee
19 December 2008—Researchers from three major California universities are working on an artificial retina that could give limited sight to people with degenerative diseases of the retina, such as macular degeneration. Such a prosthesis is a more realistic future treatment than stem-cell therapy, gene therapy, or eye transplants, its developers say. The Californian researchers have been treating people using a 60-pixel retina in a clinical trial for two years. But they are now gunning for a system with a resolution of 1000 pixels, they reported Tuesday at the IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM), in San Francisco. And in contrast with systems in trials today, the researchers hope to develop a system that would be completely sealed into the eye, without any external components.
James Weiland, an associate professor of ophthalmology at the University of Southern California’s Biomimetic MicroElectronic Systems (BMES) Engineering Research Center, reported on an experimental system that includes a 1000-pixel test chip. He expects to have the high-res retina at a point where they can begin clinical trials in about five years.
In the artificial retina, a camera mounted on glasses outside the eye sends the visual signals to two RF coils inside the front half of the eye. An electronics module inside the eye’s vitreous humor—the gelatinous saline sac that fills the space between the lens of the eye and the retina at the back of the eye—translates the RF signals into voltages for use in the high-res retina chip. Lying against the retina is a grid of 1000 electrodes on a flexible substrate; these electrodes apply voltage signals to the retina, which interprets them as photons. The rest of the visual process takes place as usual, and the system mimics relatively normal vision.
The group, which includes researchers from the BMES center, the California Institute of Technology, in Pasadena, and the University of California, Santa Cruz, which developed earlier prototypes in collaboration with Second Sight Medical Products. The first was the Argus 16, with 16 electrodes; the next, Argus II, has 60. Both have been in clinical trials. The Argus II implant enabled blind clinical-test subjects to follow a straight line for about 6 meters without deviating from the path. But the key to a medical device’s ability to grant true independence is whether it allows the person to identify faces or read. Artificial-eye researchers estimate that such tasks will require between 600 and 1000 electrodes.
Ideally, that artificial retina would be contained entirely within a person’s eyeball. In order to create a fully self-contained high-resolution system, the team must consider many different pieces: a parylene coating to protect the prosthesis from the corrosive effects of being inside the body for 60 years or more, a flexible substrate that can conform to the idiosyncracies of different individuals’ retinal curves, and, most important, wireless power.
Instead of batteries, the device uses inductive coils that pick up energy transmitted from outside the body. The researchers are also relying on insights from MEMS fabrication: the implant coils, interconnects, and 1000 electrodes are formed during a single parylene micromachining process.
“This is a really breathtaking system,” says MIT electrical engineering professor Jesus del Alamo, who organized the panel at IEDM where Weiland discussed the group’s research. “They have every piece of the system in place—they have even designed their own software.”
But there is more work to be done. “You need to get everything into the eye,” says Jamal Deen, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at McMaster University, in Ontario, “including the camera.”
So far, the camera, image-processing hardware, power amplifier, and data modulator are external, but Weiland hopes to implant even the camera part of the system by fixing it to the lens of the eye. His collaborators at USC are working on miniaturizing the camera system so that it can be placed onto the lens in a routine surgical procedure similar to cataract surgery. “If we can make a camera the size of the lens, we can implant it there,” he says. “But again, the challenge is making a self-contained camera without a larger control circuit.”
He cautions that it will take several years to put the whole system together and start clinical trials. But those trials will lean heavily on what is learned from trials of the implant being tested today. So potential patients should not wait for the new chip. “The 1000-channel device is likely more than five years away from even starting clinical testing,” says Weiland. “In the meantime, our 60-channel device has been in clinical trials for over two years, and sometimes we run into difficulty recruiting for the trial because some prospective participants are aware of the research efforts on higher-channel-count devices.”
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Brain Reorganizes to Adjust for Vision Loss in Macular Degeneration
Published by Karin
A new study shows that when people with retinal disease such as macular degeneration use a peripheral part of their retina to compensate for their loss of central vision, their brain appears to compensate by reorganizing its neural connections.
Macular degeneration (MD) causes a progressive loss of central visual. To cope with this, MD patients often start to focus using a functional retinal area in the periphery of their area of vision. This use of a new area of focus may foster cortical reorganization.
Scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to measure brain activity in participants as they performed a series of tests designed to visually stimulate their peripheral regions. It was determined that when the participants visually stimulated the peripheral retinal locations they increased brain activity in the same areas of the visual cortex that are normally activated when healthy patients focused on objects in their central visual field.
Study authors believe that large-scale cortical reorganization of visual processing occurs in humans in response to retinal disease. While several other studies have suggested that the brain can reorganize itself, this is the first study to show that this reorganization in patients with retinal disease is related to patient behavior.
Researchers are currently analyzing how long this reorganization takes and whether it can be assisted with low-vision training.
Learn more about macular degeneration
Read about eye exercises for vision fitness
SOURCE: Reorganization of visual processing is related to eccentric viewing in patients with macular degeneration, Schumacher, et al, Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience, Volume 26, Number 4-5, 2008, 391 – 402.
A new study shows that when people with retinal disease such as macular degeneration use a peripheral part of their retina to compensate for their loss of central vision, their brain appears to compensate by reorganizing its neural connections.
Macular degeneration (MD) causes a progressive loss of central visual. To cope with this, MD patients often start to focus using a functional retinal area in the periphery of their area of vision. This use of a new area of focus may foster cortical reorganization.
Scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to measure brain activity in participants as they performed a series of tests designed to visually stimulate their peripheral regions. It was determined that when the participants visually stimulated the peripheral retinal locations they increased brain activity in the same areas of the visual cortex that are normally activated when healthy patients focused on objects in their central visual field.
Study authors believe that large-scale cortical reorganization of visual processing occurs in humans in response to retinal disease. While several other studies have suggested that the brain can reorganize itself, this is the first study to show that this reorganization in patients with retinal disease is related to patient behavior.
Researchers are currently analyzing how long this reorganization takes and whether it can be assisted with low-vision training.
Learn more about macular degeneration
Read about eye exercises for vision fitness
SOURCE: Reorganization of visual processing is related to eccentric viewing in patients with macular degeneration, Schumacher, et al, Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience, Volume 26, Number 4-5, 2008, 391 – 402.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
MacuCLEAR and Mystic Pharmaceuticals Agree To Collaborate on Macular Degeneration Phase I/II Clinical Trial
PLANO, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MacuCLEAR, Inc. (“MacuCLEAR”) announced today it has entered into a collaborative business relationship with Mystic Pharmaceuticals Inc. for its upcoming Phase I/II Human Clinical Trials. MacuCLEAR is developing MC 1101, for the treatment and prevention of the progression of Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). Mystic Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Mystic”) has developed a novel unit dose drug delivery platform capable of preservative free, precision delivery of ophthalmic drugs.
“We believe Mystic’s novel VersiDoser™ delivery system will help overcome many of the challenges of topical delivery of ophthalmic drugs to the eye,” said Philip G. Ralston, Jr., President and CEO of MacuCLEAR. “Standard eyedroppers typically deliver too large a drop that 'floods' the eye. Conventional eyedroppers waste product and are difficult for elderly patients to use reliably on a daily basis. Mystic’s individually packaged drops can be precisely sized and accurately delivered with a unique dispenser that is easy to use.” Ralston added, “The Mystic dispenser counts the drops delivered, which will be helpful in tracking compliance and accounting for the usage of a reimbursed product.”
Mystic Pharmaceuticals’ President and CEO, Timothy Sullivan, stated, “We are pleased to work with MacuCLEAR in their clinical program. Their drug has shown promise throughout its preclinical program and has received fast track status from the FDA. AMD is a growing healthcare problem for our aging population. Our delivery systems are uniquely designed to safely and effectively deliver drugs to low vision and elderly people. The combination of these two technologies offers great potential for addressing a terrible disease resulting in loss of vision.”
Ralston and Sullivan jointly announced the collaboration at the OneMedPlace Emerging Healthcare Technologies Finance Forum at the Drake Hotel in San Francisco today.
About MacuCLEAR: MacuCLEAR, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical development company, based in Plano, Texas. Its lead compound, MC1101 is a novel, topically delivered solution for the treatment and prevention of the progression of the Dry or early stage of age related macular degeneration, which afflicts 90% of all who have AMD. This technology was invented at Texas A&M University by George C.Y. Chiou, PhD, who led the development of Timolol, a pioneering treatment for glaucoma.
For more information please visit the MacuCLEAR website: www.macuclear.com
About Mystic Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Mystic Pharmaceuticals™ is an integrated specialty pharmaceutical company based in Austin, Texas. Mystic develops precision unit dose ophthalmic and intranasal drug delivery platforms for pharmaceuticals, biopharmaceuticals and vaccines. Mystic combines its novel drug delivery systems with a pipeline of pharmaceuticals and biologics under development by Mystic or its partners, to meet the expanding global market demand for medications which are lower cost, safer and easier to use for consumers.
For more information please visit the Mystic website: www.mysticpharmaceuticals.com
“We believe Mystic’s novel VersiDoser™ delivery system will help overcome many of the challenges of topical delivery of ophthalmic drugs to the eye,” said Philip G. Ralston, Jr., President and CEO of MacuCLEAR. “Standard eyedroppers typically deliver too large a drop that 'floods' the eye. Conventional eyedroppers waste product and are difficult for elderly patients to use reliably on a daily basis. Mystic’s individually packaged drops can be precisely sized and accurately delivered with a unique dispenser that is easy to use.” Ralston added, “The Mystic dispenser counts the drops delivered, which will be helpful in tracking compliance and accounting for the usage of a reimbursed product.”
Mystic Pharmaceuticals’ President and CEO, Timothy Sullivan, stated, “We are pleased to work with MacuCLEAR in their clinical program. Their drug has shown promise throughout its preclinical program and has received fast track status from the FDA. AMD is a growing healthcare problem for our aging population. Our delivery systems are uniquely designed to safely and effectively deliver drugs to low vision and elderly people. The combination of these two technologies offers great potential for addressing a terrible disease resulting in loss of vision.”
Ralston and Sullivan jointly announced the collaboration at the OneMedPlace Emerging Healthcare Technologies Finance Forum at the Drake Hotel in San Francisco today.
About MacuCLEAR: MacuCLEAR, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical development company, based in Plano, Texas. Its lead compound, MC1101 is a novel, topically delivered solution for the treatment and prevention of the progression of the Dry or early stage of age related macular degeneration, which afflicts 90% of all who have AMD. This technology was invented at Texas A&M University by George C.Y. Chiou, PhD, who led the development of Timolol, a pioneering treatment for glaucoma.
For more information please visit the MacuCLEAR website: www.macuclear.com
About Mystic Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Mystic Pharmaceuticals™ is an integrated specialty pharmaceutical company based in Austin, Texas. Mystic develops precision unit dose ophthalmic and intranasal drug delivery platforms for pharmaceuticals, biopharmaceuticals and vaccines. Mystic combines its novel drug delivery systems with a pipeline of pharmaceuticals and biologics under development by Mystic or its partners, to meet the expanding global market demand for medications which are lower cost, safer and easier to use for consumers.
For more information please visit the Mystic website: www.mysticpharmaceuticals.com
Friday, January 9, 2009
Wet AMD? Participants Needed Now for New Macular Degeneration Treatment Trials.
A new trial has just begun comparing the two Macular Degeneration Wet drugs, Avastin and Lucentis. Currently Lucentis is the FDA approved drug and Avastin has off-label approval. The trial seeks to compare the two drugs for safety and effectiveness. Participants are being recruited now.
January 5, 2009 (FPRC) --
The US National Eye Institute has announced a new trial into the treatment of Macular Degeneration Wet.
Although the condition is generally accepted as incurable, eye doctors have had good results in delaying the worst of the symptoms, including full blindness, by injecting drugs directly into the eyes of patients.
Currently Lucentis is the FDA approved drug for wet macular degeneration treatment. It was approved in June 2006.
Years of clinical trials showed that with repeated treatment, Lucentis slowed the progression of vision loss and in some cases even improved vision.
One of the problems with Lucentis is that it is a very expensive drug, costing approximately $2000 per injection.
Injections are usually needed every 4 weeks.
Avastin, a much cheaper drug, has off-label approval for treating wet AMD. It was approved by the FDA in 2004 for colon cancer treatment.
Avastin works in a similar way to Lucentis by stopping the unwanted blood vessel growth present in wet AMD.
The Lucentis-Avastin trial will compare the two drugs for safety and effectiveness.
Participants in the trial can expect to be treated with an injection of either drug every four weeks for up to two years.
It is important to remember that wet macular degeneration is generally regarded as incurable.
Also participants in the trial should be aware that possible side effects of eye injection treatment could include eye inflammation and increased eye pressure athough serious side effects are rare.
Macular Degeneration is a leading cause of age related blindness. The good news is that
age related eye disease and eventual blindness CAN be prevented. Specific nutrients, reduction of risk factors and early detection can save your sight.
To learn more about prevention and how to participate in the
Lucentis-Avastin Trial visit our website.
http://maculardegenerationtreatmenttips.com/
January 5, 2009 (FPRC) --
The US National Eye Institute has announced a new trial into the treatment of Macular Degeneration Wet.
Although the condition is generally accepted as incurable, eye doctors have had good results in delaying the worst of the symptoms, including full blindness, by injecting drugs directly into the eyes of patients.
Currently Lucentis is the FDA approved drug for wet macular degeneration treatment. It was approved in June 2006.
Years of clinical trials showed that with repeated treatment, Lucentis slowed the progression of vision loss and in some cases even improved vision.
One of the problems with Lucentis is that it is a very expensive drug, costing approximately $2000 per injection.
Injections are usually needed every 4 weeks.
Avastin, a much cheaper drug, has off-label approval for treating wet AMD. It was approved by the FDA in 2004 for colon cancer treatment.
Avastin works in a similar way to Lucentis by stopping the unwanted blood vessel growth present in wet AMD.
The Lucentis-Avastin trial will compare the two drugs for safety and effectiveness.
Participants in the trial can expect to be treated with an injection of either drug every four weeks for up to two years.
It is important to remember that wet macular degeneration is generally regarded as incurable.
Also participants in the trial should be aware that possible side effects of eye injection treatment could include eye inflammation and increased eye pressure athough serious side effects are rare.
Macular Degeneration is a leading cause of age related blindness. The good news is that
age related eye disease and eventual blindness CAN be prevented. Specific nutrients, reduction of risk factors and early detection can save your sight.
To learn more about prevention and how to participate in the
Lucentis-Avastin Trial visit our website.
http://maculardegenerationtreatmenttips.com/
Saturday, January 3, 2009
The Many Uses of CoenzymeQ10
The benefits of coenzyme Q10 have mostly been ascribed to aiding heart health in recent years. In this regard, it is known as a nutrient that may help patients who suffer from congestive heart failure.
It has also been touted by many natural health experts who point out that statin prescription drugs — which are used to lower cholesterol — also deplete the body of essential coenzyme Q10. Therefore, supplementing with coenzyme Q10 is particuarly important for statin users.
In Japan, Coenzyme Q10 is a hugely popular supplement and a significant percentage of the adult population uses it as a general anti-aging supplement.
But beyond these now well known facts, the latest research is indicating coenzyme Q10 has many other uses.
What is Coenzyme Q10 Used For
The efficacy of coenzyme Q10 in migraines is just one of the latest uses for this potent nutrient.
In the February 2005 issue of Neurology, a study was referenced that took place in Switzerland in which Coenzyme Q10 supplemention reduced migraine frequency by 27% in sufferers of this condition.
This study was not conducted with a large number of patients–only 42 people–and so further research is needed in this area, but the initial efficacy of coenzyme Q10 in migraines is off to a promising start.
Another of the recent benefits of coenzyme Q10 is this nutrient’s role in possibly slowing down macular degeneration in its early stages. This is fantastic news because age-related macular degneration is the leading cause of vision loss in adults over 60.
Some of this research was reported in the 2005 May Opthamologica journal, although it was found that other nutrients can also help improve age-related macular degeneration as well, such as acetly-L carnitine and omega-3 fatty acids.
Before this, other research has shown that lutein and zeaxanthin are two important nutrients for the eyes and macular degeneration as well.
The benefits of coenzyme Q10 is now also extending into cancer. It’s been reported that cancer sufferers often have low levels of this nutrient.
Therefore, research has been conducted to see if coenzyme Q10 supplementation would improve certain types of cancer because one of the functions of this nutrient is to boost the body’s immune response.
So far, the research on coenzyme Q10 is showing that when it is combined with other antioxidants such as vitamin C, E, beta carotene, the mineral selenium, and Omega 3 fatty acids, it may help patients with breast cancer. More studies need to be conducted to confirm these initial findings.
The last of the recent benefits of coenzyme Q10 indicate it may be helpful in fighting the progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s. In fact, promising results were reported in the Archives of Neurology, in which patients in one study experienced a 44% less decline in mental function and movement as opposed to those who took placebo.
This was a government funded study by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders, which is a part of the larger National Institutes of Health.
As promising as all of these recent studies are, the good news is that coenzyme Q10 is also being studied for many other health conditions as well, ranging from male fertility, alleviating diabetic complications, improving memory, and much more.
Talk to a natural health expert for tips on choosing a quality coenzyme Q10 supplement — or any other promising supplement you wish to investigate.
Get unconventional and unique solutions for common health issues, and keep abreast of the latest benefits and dangers of nutritional supplements with our free newsletter. Claim your subscription now at: nutritional-supplement-info.com nutritional-supplement-info.com
It has also been touted by many natural health experts who point out that statin prescription drugs — which are used to lower cholesterol — also deplete the body of essential coenzyme Q10. Therefore, supplementing with coenzyme Q10 is particuarly important for statin users.
In Japan, Coenzyme Q10 is a hugely popular supplement and a significant percentage of the adult population uses it as a general anti-aging supplement.
But beyond these now well known facts, the latest research is indicating coenzyme Q10 has many other uses.
What is Coenzyme Q10 Used For
The efficacy of coenzyme Q10 in migraines is just one of the latest uses for this potent nutrient.
In the February 2005 issue of Neurology, a study was referenced that took place in Switzerland in which Coenzyme Q10 supplemention reduced migraine frequency by 27% in sufferers of this condition.
This study was not conducted with a large number of patients–only 42 people–and so further research is needed in this area, but the initial efficacy of coenzyme Q10 in migraines is off to a promising start.
Another of the recent benefits of coenzyme Q10 is this nutrient’s role in possibly slowing down macular degeneration in its early stages. This is fantastic news because age-related macular degneration is the leading cause of vision loss in adults over 60.
Some of this research was reported in the 2005 May Opthamologica journal, although it was found that other nutrients can also help improve age-related macular degeneration as well, such as acetly-L carnitine and omega-3 fatty acids.
Before this, other research has shown that lutein and zeaxanthin are two important nutrients for the eyes and macular degeneration as well.
The benefits of coenzyme Q10 is now also extending into cancer. It’s been reported that cancer sufferers often have low levels of this nutrient.
Therefore, research has been conducted to see if coenzyme Q10 supplementation would improve certain types of cancer because one of the functions of this nutrient is to boost the body’s immune response.
So far, the research on coenzyme Q10 is showing that when it is combined with other antioxidants such as vitamin C, E, beta carotene, the mineral selenium, and Omega 3 fatty acids, it may help patients with breast cancer. More studies need to be conducted to confirm these initial findings.
The last of the recent benefits of coenzyme Q10 indicate it may be helpful in fighting the progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s. In fact, promising results were reported in the Archives of Neurology, in which patients in one study experienced a 44% less decline in mental function and movement as opposed to those who took placebo.
This was a government funded study by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders, which is a part of the larger National Institutes of Health.
As promising as all of these recent studies are, the good news is that coenzyme Q10 is also being studied for many other health conditions as well, ranging from male fertility, alleviating diabetic complications, improving memory, and much more.
Talk to a natural health expert for tips on choosing a quality coenzyme Q10 supplement — or any other promising supplement you wish to investigate.
Get unconventional and unique solutions for common health issues, and keep abreast of the latest benefits and dangers of nutritional supplements with our free newsletter. Claim your subscription now at: nutritional-supplement-info.com nutritional-supplement-info.com
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Pioneering Eye Surgeon Sees Hope for Treating Macular Degeneration with Natural Hormones
By Debora Yost
Plant caroteinoids such as lutein and zeaxanthin were long ago shown to help prevent macular degeneration. But is there more that can be done to protect against this epidemic of blindness?
George W. Rozakis, MD is a Cornell-trained biomedical engineer specializing in laser eye surgery and lens implants. A pioneer in the field of LASIK surgery,1 Dr. Rozakis is now vigorously involved in anti-aging medical research.
Dr. Rozakis is focusing on a potential breakthrough in treating macular degeneration, a condition that gradually destroys central vision. Also called age-related macular degeneration, it is the leading cause of blindness in people aged 65 and older.
Dr. Rozakis believes that restoring the correct balance of natural hormones that decline with age can retard and possibly even reverse the progression of macular degeneration. To investigate this hypothesis, he is setting up a long-term study and is currently seeking subjects to participate in the trial.
Hormones and Your Vision
The hormonal link with macular degeneration began to evolve when Dr. Rozakis met another medical pioneer, Sergey A. Dzugan, MD, PhD, during a conference in Chicago four years ago. Dr. Dzugan is a cardiovascular surgeon and internationally known expert in anti-aging and hormonal medicine.
“Dr. Dzugan has done numerous studies2-4 and written numerous articles on the association between low hormone levels and multiple disease states, including the problem of atherosclerosis and cholesterol elevation,” says Dr. Rozakis. “As an ophthalmologist I was impressed by the evidence that restoring and optimizing levels of key hormones improve brain function, largely because the retina is part of the brain. For example, there is very impressive literature that testosterone slows down the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.5 Pregnenolone is extremely important for the brain and nervous system, as are progesterone and estrogens. Women whose progesterone levels drop develop negative personality changes.6 In animal models, pregnenolone and DHEA have been shown to profoundly stimulate the healing of neurologic injury.7-9 Women who enter into menopause at a young age develop macular degeneration, presumably because of the absence of estrogens.10,11 Blocking estrogens with the anti-cancer drug tamoxifen is harmful to the retina.12 This leads us to wonder if optimal hormonal health also positively impacts ocular health.”
“When an article appeared in the American Journal of Ophthalmology indicating that DHEA, or dehydroepiandrosterone, is exceptionally low in macular degeneration patients,13 I was shocked and excited,” says Dr. Rozakis. This finding provided a major clue that hormonal imbalance was part of the problem of macular degeneration.
“DHEA is like the Grand Central Station of hormone chemistry,” says Dr. Rozakis. “When DHEA levels drop, it strongly implies that levels of other hormones such as pregnenolone, estrogens, and testosterone are out of balance or suboptimal.” All of these hormones make the body thrive—they give us virility, fertility, and help us act and react quicker. Since the retina contains hormone receptors, hormones must be part of the biophysiology of vision itself.
Cardiovascular Link
Low DHEA levels in macular degeneration could also explain its association with heart disease, as it is known that macular degeneration is an independent risk factor for stroke and coronary artery disease. In a study conducted by Australian scientists,14 macular degeneration predicted a five-fold higher risk of cardiovascular mortality and a 10-fold higher risk of stroke mortality. After controlling for traditional cardiovascular risk factors, age-related macular degeneration predicted a doubling of cardiovascular mortality. Since hormone deficiency has been linked with both heart disease and eye disorders,13,15 it is a prime suspect that links the heart to the eye.
Further examination of the literature reveals a major review article from Italy that explains the importance of hormones to the retina.16 In this article, it is shown that the retina is able to attempt to make its own hormones, just like the brain. “The article also indicates that many of the hormones we use in anti-aging programs have a role in the retina, such as pregnenolone, DHEA, testosterone, estrogens, and progesterone. Few ophthalmologists and optometrists are aware of this relationship. This was the smoking gun that led to our hypothesis,” Dr. Rozakis notes.
Macular Degeneration and Cholesterol
A good theory needs to connect all the dots. Dr. Rozakis explains that one challenge in shaping his theory was explaining the presence of “drusen” or spots that appear in the retina in patients with macular degeneration. Many consider these spots to be “degradation products.”
Recently, Goldis Malek, PhD, and others17-19 found that cholesterol was present in those spots. This led some people to think that cholesterol-lowering agents, such as statins, might help macular degeneration—but they do not. In fact, there is concern that statins actually increase the risk of dry macular degeneration advancing to the neovascular form of the disease, whereby tiny blood vessels in the eye begin to bleed.20
Dr. Rozakis notes, “To Dr. Dzugan and me, the presence of cholesterol in the macula was the key piece of data that integrated everything. The presence of cholesterol in the macula suggests that the retina is trying to make hormones—but that it can’t. So, the body’s accumulation of cholesterol and drusen worsen.” He continues, “The macula can’t get the hormones it needs from the blood because there aren’t much there. As a result, if the macula is having trouble converting cholesterol into hormones, drusen form, and this results in the drusen we see in macular degeneration. Why the macula stops making hormones is unknown, but it is associated with aging. We can speculate that it happens because the enzymes which do the conversion decrease or are down-regulated with aging.”
“This same ‘story’ of cholesterol and hormones plays itself out in the body as a whole,” says Dr. Rozakis. “We do know that the adrenal gland, which produces DHEA, loses the ability to manufacture hormones as we age. As Dr. Dzugan published, this hormonal decline stimulates the liver to produce more cholesterol in an attempt to create more hormones.3 This is why restoring hormones to their normal levels causes the liver to produce less cholesterol. That same paradigm may be happening in the macula. This is the basis of our hypothesis. The goal therefore must be to provide the retina the hormones it needs through supplementation.”
Reviewing the Evidence
There is already evidence to support the notion that DHEA protects the eyes against oxidative damage21 and that the hormone pregnenolone improves electrical activity in the retina, as measured by the electroretinogram (ERG).22,23 There is also evidence to support the use of melatonin in the treatment of macular degeneration.24,25
The theory that optimizing hormones may help promote macular health is based on these scientific facts:
1.The macula, which is located in the center of the retina, uses hormones to function.16
2.The normal macula has the unique ability to make its own hormones.26
3.The bloodstream of patients with macular degeneration is deficient in hormones.11,13
4.Drusen—the tiny yellow abnormalities that appear behind the macula in individuals with macular degeneration—contain cholesterol.17-19
5.Age-related macular degeneration is related to cardiovascular mortality.14
Dr. Rozakis speculates that the solution for treating macular degeneration is to measure and restore age-depleted hormones to optimal levels so that the macula can absorb the hormones it needs from the blood. “Hopefully restoring hormones to their normal levels in the bloodstream will cause the macula to stop absorbing cholesterol and, as a result, drusen formation will hopefully decline,” says Dr. Rozakis. “We certainly need a better understanding of the pathophysiology of this blinding disease.”27
A Higher Level of Natural Treatment
Dr. Rozakis sees hormone restoration as a strategy to improve on existing studies showing that certain nutrients can reduce the progression of age-related macular degeneration. The long-term Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS), conducted by the National Eye Institute, found that supplementing the anti-oxidants beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, and the mineral zinc reduced the risk of developing advanced states of macular degeneration in more than 4,700 high-risk patients aged 55 to 80 who were enrolled in the study.28
The specific amounts of nutrients used by the study researchers were:
*500 mg of vitamin C
*400 IU of vitamin E
*15 mg of beta-carotene
*80 mg of zinc
*2 mg of copper.
The copper, administered as cupric oxide, was included in the formula to prevent copper-deficiency anemia, which is associated with high zinc intake.
As a result of the AREDS trial, many ophthalmologists are recommending supplements containing the study’s recommended dosages for patients with or at a high risk for age-related macular degeneration.
Dr. Rozakis is currently developing his own study to test his theory concerning the relationship between low levels of DHEA and macular degeneration. “Our study is going to focus on overall hormonal balance and will include the supplements used in the AREDS study as well,” says Dr. Rozakis. “Our goal is to do everything we can to stop macular degeneration. The fact that hormones are much more powerful than vitamins holds hope that the results will be significant.”
If you have any questions on the scientific content of this article, please contact a Life Extension Health Advisor at 1-800-226-2370.
Plant caroteinoids such as lutein and zeaxanthin were long ago shown to help prevent macular degeneration. But is there more that can be done to protect against this epidemic of blindness?
George W. Rozakis, MD is a Cornell-trained biomedical engineer specializing in laser eye surgery and lens implants. A pioneer in the field of LASIK surgery,1 Dr. Rozakis is now vigorously involved in anti-aging medical research.
Dr. Rozakis is focusing on a potential breakthrough in treating macular degeneration, a condition that gradually destroys central vision. Also called age-related macular degeneration, it is the leading cause of blindness in people aged 65 and older.
Dr. Rozakis believes that restoring the correct balance of natural hormones that decline with age can retard and possibly even reverse the progression of macular degeneration. To investigate this hypothesis, he is setting up a long-term study and is currently seeking subjects to participate in the trial.
Hormones and Your Vision
The hormonal link with macular degeneration began to evolve when Dr. Rozakis met another medical pioneer, Sergey A. Dzugan, MD, PhD, during a conference in Chicago four years ago. Dr. Dzugan is a cardiovascular surgeon and internationally known expert in anti-aging and hormonal medicine.
“Dr. Dzugan has done numerous studies2-4 and written numerous articles on the association between low hormone levels and multiple disease states, including the problem of atherosclerosis and cholesterol elevation,” says Dr. Rozakis. “As an ophthalmologist I was impressed by the evidence that restoring and optimizing levels of key hormones improve brain function, largely because the retina is part of the brain. For example, there is very impressive literature that testosterone slows down the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.5 Pregnenolone is extremely important for the brain and nervous system, as are progesterone and estrogens. Women whose progesterone levels drop develop negative personality changes.6 In animal models, pregnenolone and DHEA have been shown to profoundly stimulate the healing of neurologic injury.7-9 Women who enter into menopause at a young age develop macular degeneration, presumably because of the absence of estrogens.10,11 Blocking estrogens with the anti-cancer drug tamoxifen is harmful to the retina.12 This leads us to wonder if optimal hormonal health also positively impacts ocular health.”
“When an article appeared in the American Journal of Ophthalmology indicating that DHEA, or dehydroepiandrosterone, is exceptionally low in macular degeneration patients,13 I was shocked and excited,” says Dr. Rozakis. This finding provided a major clue that hormonal imbalance was part of the problem of macular degeneration.
“DHEA is like the Grand Central Station of hormone chemistry,” says Dr. Rozakis. “When DHEA levels drop, it strongly implies that levels of other hormones such as pregnenolone, estrogens, and testosterone are out of balance or suboptimal.” All of these hormones make the body thrive—they give us virility, fertility, and help us act and react quicker. Since the retina contains hormone receptors, hormones must be part of the biophysiology of vision itself.
Cardiovascular Link
Low DHEA levels in macular degeneration could also explain its association with heart disease, as it is known that macular degeneration is an independent risk factor for stroke and coronary artery disease. In a study conducted by Australian scientists,14 macular degeneration predicted a five-fold higher risk of cardiovascular mortality and a 10-fold higher risk of stroke mortality. After controlling for traditional cardiovascular risk factors, age-related macular degeneration predicted a doubling of cardiovascular mortality. Since hormone deficiency has been linked with both heart disease and eye disorders,13,15 it is a prime suspect that links the heart to the eye.
Further examination of the literature reveals a major review article from Italy that explains the importance of hormones to the retina.16 In this article, it is shown that the retina is able to attempt to make its own hormones, just like the brain. “The article also indicates that many of the hormones we use in anti-aging programs have a role in the retina, such as pregnenolone, DHEA, testosterone, estrogens, and progesterone. Few ophthalmologists and optometrists are aware of this relationship. This was the smoking gun that led to our hypothesis,” Dr. Rozakis notes.
Macular Degeneration and Cholesterol
A good theory needs to connect all the dots. Dr. Rozakis explains that one challenge in shaping his theory was explaining the presence of “drusen” or spots that appear in the retina in patients with macular degeneration. Many consider these spots to be “degradation products.”
Recently, Goldis Malek, PhD, and others17-19 found that cholesterol was present in those spots. This led some people to think that cholesterol-lowering agents, such as statins, might help macular degeneration—but they do not. In fact, there is concern that statins actually increase the risk of dry macular degeneration advancing to the neovascular form of the disease, whereby tiny blood vessels in the eye begin to bleed.20
Dr. Rozakis notes, “To Dr. Dzugan and me, the presence of cholesterol in the macula was the key piece of data that integrated everything. The presence of cholesterol in the macula suggests that the retina is trying to make hormones—but that it can’t. So, the body’s accumulation of cholesterol and drusen worsen.” He continues, “The macula can’t get the hormones it needs from the blood because there aren’t much there. As a result, if the macula is having trouble converting cholesterol into hormones, drusen form, and this results in the drusen we see in macular degeneration. Why the macula stops making hormones is unknown, but it is associated with aging. We can speculate that it happens because the enzymes which do the conversion decrease or are down-regulated with aging.”
“This same ‘story’ of cholesterol and hormones plays itself out in the body as a whole,” says Dr. Rozakis. “We do know that the adrenal gland, which produces DHEA, loses the ability to manufacture hormones as we age. As Dr. Dzugan published, this hormonal decline stimulates the liver to produce more cholesterol in an attempt to create more hormones.3 This is why restoring hormones to their normal levels causes the liver to produce less cholesterol. That same paradigm may be happening in the macula. This is the basis of our hypothesis. The goal therefore must be to provide the retina the hormones it needs through supplementation.”
Reviewing the Evidence
There is already evidence to support the notion that DHEA protects the eyes against oxidative damage21 and that the hormone pregnenolone improves electrical activity in the retina, as measured by the electroretinogram (ERG).22,23 There is also evidence to support the use of melatonin in the treatment of macular degeneration.24,25
The theory that optimizing hormones may help promote macular health is based on these scientific facts:
1.The macula, which is located in the center of the retina, uses hormones to function.16
2.The normal macula has the unique ability to make its own hormones.26
3.The bloodstream of patients with macular degeneration is deficient in hormones.11,13
4.Drusen—the tiny yellow abnormalities that appear behind the macula in individuals with macular degeneration—contain cholesterol.17-19
5.Age-related macular degeneration is related to cardiovascular mortality.14
Dr. Rozakis speculates that the solution for treating macular degeneration is to measure and restore age-depleted hormones to optimal levels so that the macula can absorb the hormones it needs from the blood. “Hopefully restoring hormones to their normal levels in the bloodstream will cause the macula to stop absorbing cholesterol and, as a result, drusen formation will hopefully decline,” says Dr. Rozakis. “We certainly need a better understanding of the pathophysiology of this blinding disease.”27
A Higher Level of Natural Treatment
Dr. Rozakis sees hormone restoration as a strategy to improve on existing studies showing that certain nutrients can reduce the progression of age-related macular degeneration. The long-term Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS), conducted by the National Eye Institute, found that supplementing the anti-oxidants beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, and the mineral zinc reduced the risk of developing advanced states of macular degeneration in more than 4,700 high-risk patients aged 55 to 80 who were enrolled in the study.28
The specific amounts of nutrients used by the study researchers were:
*500 mg of vitamin C
*400 IU of vitamin E
*15 mg of beta-carotene
*80 mg of zinc
*2 mg of copper.
The copper, administered as cupric oxide, was included in the formula to prevent copper-deficiency anemia, which is associated with high zinc intake.
As a result of the AREDS trial, many ophthalmologists are recommending supplements containing the study’s recommended dosages for patients with or at a high risk for age-related macular degeneration.
Dr. Rozakis is currently developing his own study to test his theory concerning the relationship between low levels of DHEA and macular degeneration. “Our study is going to focus on overall hormonal balance and will include the supplements used in the AREDS study as well,” says Dr. Rozakis. “Our goal is to do everything we can to stop macular degeneration. The fact that hormones are much more powerful than vitamins holds hope that the results will be significant.”
If you have any questions on the scientific content of this article, please contact a Life Extension Health Advisor at 1-800-226-2370.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Macular Degeneration Can Disappear with Natural Therapies
Filed Under Dr. Zoltan Rona (MD) |
Macular degeneration is the leading cause of visual loss in Europeans and North Americans over the age of 50. It is thought to be the direct result of free radical damage to the macula, a small area located at the centre of the retina. The macula is responsible for fine vision.
Patient Profile:
A 79-year-old woman recently consulted me because a top expert in eye diseases diagnosed her as having macular degeneration. She was told that nothing could be done and, to quote the specialist, “You are going to go blind.”
As it turns out, this was not only discouraging for my patient, but a completely wrong prediction.
Here’s the advice I gave this patient:
Diet
• Eat more legumes, which have a cleansing effect due to their high content of sulphur-containing amino acids.
• Consume more fresh fruits and vegetables, especially yellow vegetables.
• Berries are wonderful—particularly blueberries because of their high content of anthocyanidins.
• Cherries are valuable because they offer carotenes, flavonoids, and vitamins E and C.
• Carotenoids—lutein and zeaxanthin—are most strongly associated with reduced risk of macular degeneration. The best sources are spinach, kale, and collard greens.
Supplements
None of these natural supplements have any serious side effects. Take the following antioxidant supplements each day:
• Beta-carotene: 100,000 IU
• Green powder: Choose an enzymatically active green “superfood” powder. Green products are high in carotenoids. Take 1 tablespoon in 15 ml of water or juice.
• Vitamin C: 2,000 mg three times daily
• Pycnogenol: 300 mg (from either pine bark extract or grape seed extract)
• Coenzyme Q10: 100 mg three times daily
• Vitamin E: 400 IU three times daily
• Selenium: 600 mcg
• Zinc chelate or citrate: 100 mg. Several published studies support the use of zinc supplements to help reverse numerous eye disorders including macular degeneration.
Botanicals
Research reveals that the following botanical medicines also show impressive results with macular degeneration:
• Ginkgo biloba extract: 250 mg
• Bilberry extract: 80 mg twice daily (25% anthocyanidin content). Bilberry is used in Europe for cataracts, macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, and diabetic retinopathy. It can also prevent further damage from glaucoma by working as an antioxidant in the eyes. Its anthocyanidins increase vitamin C levels (a critical nutrient for healthy eyes) within the cells and decrease capillary fragility.
Result
A six-month follow-up visit to the eye specialist showed complete clearing of this patient’s macular degeneration.
Dr. Zoltan Rona
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