Macular pigment optical density in an ageing Irish population : The Irish longitudinal study on ageing

Nolan, John M. and Kenny, Roseanne and O'Regan, Claire and Cronin, Hilary and Loughman, James and Connolly, Eithne E. and Kearney, Patricia and Loane, Edward and Beatty, Stephen (2010) Macular pigment optical density in an ageing Irish population : The Irish longitudinal study on ageing. Ophthalmic Research, 44 (2). pp. 131-139. ISSN 0030-3747

Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)

Abstract

Purpose: The 3 carotenoids lutein, zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin, which account for the 'yellow spot' at the macula and which are referred to as macular pigment (MP), are believed to play a role in visual function and protect against age-related macular degeneration (AMD) via their optical and antioxidant properties. This study was undertaken to compare MP optical density (MPOD) in a population aged ≥50 years with MPOD values from a normative database of subjects aged 18-60 years. Methods: Seventy-nine subjects were recruited into this pilot study (The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing-TILDA). MPOD was measured using heterochromatic flicker photometry. Retinal fundus photographs, lifestyle data and general health data, were also obtained. Results: The mean ± SD age of the 79 subjects recruited into this study was 65 ± 11 years. There was a moderate, but statistically significant, age-related decline in MPOD at 0.5° in the TILDA data (r = -0.251, p = 0.045), which remained upon merging with a normative database of an additional 462 subjects aged between 18 and 67 years (r = -0.179, p = 0.000). Conclusions: We report an inverse association between MPOD and increasing age. Longitudinal data in a larger cohort of participants are required to satisfactorily investigate the relationship between the optical density of this pigment and age, and with risk for development and/or progression of AMD. This pilot study represents a first step in this endeavour.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2700/2731
Departments or Groups:
Depositing User:	Admin SSL
Date Deposited:	19 Oct 2022 23:06
Last Modified:	07 Jun 2023 18:44
URI:	http://repository-testing.wit.ie/id/eprint/4110

Actions (login required)

View Item