BODY & MIND SUNDAY, JANUARY 19, 2020 |
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SECTION K
Best foods for eye health
The
eyes have it Macular degeneration has large impact on American population
M
BRADFORD CROFT, D.O.
As the disease progresses, there may be wavy or blurred vision...there becomes a loss of the center of the visual field—imagine looking at a photograph with the center of the picture erased.
East Flagstaff Family Medicine
ore than 10 million Americans suffer from vision loss due to macular degeneration, more than glaucoma and cataracts combined. The retina is the back lining of the eye, responsible for receiving images projected by the lens. The central portion, or macula, is where the ability to focus central vision occurs. As that lining deteriorates, the ability to read, recognize faces or colors, drive a car and see objects in fine detail becomes compromised. In the early stages of macular degeneration, the individual may not yet be aware there are any changes in vision. As the disease progresses, there may be wavy or blurred vision. With additional change, there becomes a loss of the center of the visual field— imagine looking at a photograph with the center of the picture erased. Macular degeneration is a little-known disease, but research continues to shed as much light on it as possible. There is evidence that lifestyle, genetics and environment all contribute to its development, with people who have a family history at greater risk. White populations also have a greater likelihood of developing this disease than blacks or Latinos. Those with light colored eyes are more likely to experience vision deteriora-
tion due to macular degeneration, as are those with long-term UV exposure without protection. Females, those who are overweight, eat a high fat diet or have cardiovascular disease are also at greater risk, and smoking doubles the risk of macular degeneration. The threat increases with aging, particularly for those over the age of 60. Because the disease most commonly occurs with age, it is referred to as Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). The early stages of AMD may not be evident to the patient. A careful eye exam may identify the initial presence of drusen, the degenerative deposits found in the retina, as the disease is diagnosed. Intermediate AMD develops as the number and size of drusen increase, which may provide some degree of visual changes, but still may not necessarily be apparent to the individual. A comprehensive eye exam
along with additional testing should show larger and increasing drusen or changes in the retinal pigment. Late AMD has established apparent vision loss. Another form of macular degeneration is known as Stargardt disease. This type is genetic in nature and commonly presents in young individuals, earning it the name of early onset or juvenile macular degeneration. Dry degeneration (atrophic) is far the more common type of macular degeneration (85-90%) while the balance is wet degeneration (exudative). Although both present problems, the wet form is a much more aggressive form of the disease. Dry degeneration involves the proliferation of drusen, where eventually the macular cells will thin and die, causing loss of central vision. Wet degeneration involves overgrowth of blood vessels in the eye, causing bleeding and fluid in the retina, eventually leading to scarring and vision loss. At this time, macular degeneration is an incurable disease, although there are opportunities to reduce your risk and slow the progression once diagnosed. Risk reduction may include exercise, diet changes, protecting your eyes from UV exposure and not smoking. Regular eye examinations may be the single most important factor in intervention, especially if you have risk factors or a family history of macular degeneration.
Can what you eat impact how you see? Research from some of the most well-respected eye health organizations in the world says yes. Organizations such as the American Optometric Association and the American Academy of Ophthalmology continue to recommend specific nutrients for eye health. The best part? Their recommendations come from all major food groups, making it easy for you to find an eyehealthy option to add to your diet. Here is the list of the 10 foods recommended by these two organizations: Fish; nuts and legumes; seeds; citrus fruits; leafy green vegetables; carrots; sweet potatoes; beef; eggs; and water.
Fish, Nuts and Seeds
Many fish are rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids, including tuna, salmon, trout and herring. These rich, fatty options can help keep your eye health on track and can even reverse dry eye symptoms. Nuts and seeds are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E, which can help stave off age-related eye damage. Consider these nuts when filling up your grocery cart: walnuts, Brazil nuts, cashews and peanuts. These seeds also pack a positive punch when it comes to eye health: Chia seeds, flax seeds and hemp seeds.
Fruits and Vegetables
Citrus fruits are rich in vitamin C, which can help keep your eyes young and healthy. These fruit options include lemons, oranges and grapefruits. For vegetable fans, leafy green options are your best bet in finding eye-friendly vitamin C. Consider spinach, kale and collards when preparing your upcoming meals. Carrots and sweet potatoes are also a great option due to their heavy vitamin A and carotene concentrations.
Beef and Eggs
Beef is rich in zinc, which can help delay age-related sight issues and macular degeneration. Chicken breast and pork loin also contain zinc, but at slightly lower levels. Eggs are a great source of lutein and zeaxanthin, which can also reduce the risk of age-related sight loss.
Water
Water may be one of the most important aspects of eye health. Fluid is essential to the overall longevity of your eyes because of dehydration’s negative impact on vision. Drinking plenty of water, along with the aforementioned foods, can help with your eye health in the short and long-term.
For more information East Flagstaff Family Medicine is located at 1515 E. Cedar Ave., Suite A-3. Call (928) 774-2788 for more information, or visit www.eastflagfamilymed.com to learn about more topics covered in Dr. Croft’s monthly Health Bytes column. © ADOBE STOCK
Detecting early memory loss in women LAUREN J. MAPP
The San Diego Union-Tribune
SAN DIEGO — Women represent twothirds of Alzheimer’s disease patients, according to the Alzheimer’s Association, but when it comes to the diagnosis of early forms of memory loss, their symptoms are less likely to be detected than in male patients. Researchers at UC San Diego, however, may have found the key to better detecting early memory loss in women. In a recent study of data from nearly 1,000 Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative patients, researchers found that tailoring verbal memory tests based on sex may help to diagnose amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), which can be a precursor to Alzheimer’s. Women typically have stronger verbal memory skills than men, making it harder to observe early symptoms of dementia in female patients compared to their male
counterparts. “If we adjust our criteria for diagnosis to be sex-specific and to account for that female advantage, like we did in the current study, our results suggest that we would actually improve diagnostic accuracy in both women and men,” said Erin Sundermann, an assistant project scientist at UCSD who led the project. The study, published in the American Academy of Neurology journal, used a more narrow set of criteria to evaluate memory loss for women. Using this new method, 10 percent of the female patients who were deemed cognitively healthy under the old criteria would be diagnosed with aMCI. About 80 percent of people diagnosed with aMCI later develop Alzheimer’s, according to the National Institute of Health. Symptoms include losing things, forgetting to go to planned events and having more difficulty recalling words than others in the
same age range. Age and education level are often looked at when diagnosing forms of dementia, but the sex of the patient is usually not considered, UCSD reports. Earlier detection of memory loss is important when it comes to various treatment and slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s, Sundermann said. “The female advantage in verbal memory may actually put women at a disadvantage in terms of detecting Alzheimer’s disease in its early disease stages, when our currently available treatments and interventions are likely most effective,” she said. Adjusting memory loss standards for sex can also help to prevent men from being misdiagnosed with a cognitive impairment. The initial study found that with the new sex-specific criteria, 10 percent of the men previously diagnosed with aMCI were cognitively healthy.
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To strengthen the findings, Sundermann added that the study will have to be replicated using different groups of patients, especially those with more ethnic and educational diversity. “We’d also want to look more at the mechanism underlying women’s ability to maintain their memory performance, despite having brain changes,” she said. Co-authors involved with the project included Mark W. Bondi from UCSD and Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, as well as others from State University of New York, Mayo Clinic, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and University of Illinois at Chicago. The study was partially funded by grants from the National Institute of Health and the Department of Defense, a UCSD spokeswoman said. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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