14 DAY TRIAL // In a paper published in the February 12 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience, researchers from the Emory Eye Center and the Atlanta VA Medical Center argue that moderate amounts of physical, aerobic exercises can maintain the function and structure of nerve cells in the retina.
This discovery has significant implications, particularly for seniors, who often suffer from a condition called macular degeneration, for which there is currently no cure. These findings therefore suggest that the elderly could delay this condition by simply exercising moderately during the week.
“This research may lead to tailored exercise regimens or combination therapies in treatments of retinal degenerative diseases. Possibly in the near future, ophthalmologists could be prescribing exercise as a low-cost intervention to delay vision loss,” says senior author Machelle Pardue, PhD, from the Atlanta VA Center for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation.
Macular degeneration currently affects around 11 million people in the United States and is the leading cause of blindness among seniors older than 65. Unfortunately, as the general population ages, the incidence of macular degeneration is very likely to increase even further, Science Blog reports.