Parkinson’s Treatment May Protect Against AMD

Newswise — Denver, Colo. – L-DOPA, a routine drug taken by patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease, has been found to delay the onset of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The research is being presented at the 2015 Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) this week in Denver, Colo.

In a study investigating over 15 million people, individuals taking L-DOPA were significantly less likely to develop AMD, and when they did, the age of onset was significantly later. These results suggest L-DOPA may be useful in both preventing and delaying the disease.

AMD is the leading cause of irreversible visual loss in developed countries, causing deterioration of the central part of one’s gaze.

Abstract Title: Inverse Association Between L-DOPA and Age-Related Macular DegenerationPresentation Start/End Time: Tuesday, May 5, 8:30 – 10:15am Location: Exhibit HallAbstract Number: 2818- C0046

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The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) is the largest eye and vision research organization in the world. Members include nearly 12,000 eye and vision researchers from over 75 countries. ARVO advances research worldwide into understanding the visual system and preventing, treating and curing its disorders.

All abstracts accepted for presentation at the ARVO Annual Meeting represent previously unpublished data and conclusions. This research may be proprietary or may have been submitted for journal publication. Embargo policy: Journalists must seek approval from the presenter(s) before reporting data from paper or poster presentations. Press releases or stories on information presented at the ARVO Annual Meeting may not be released or published until the conclusion of the presentation.