New AMD Gene Discovery
Genetic Finding Has Important Implications For Treating Blindness
A genetic finding reported in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) has broad implications for stopping an impending epidemic of blindness in the United States and other developed nations. In the July 22 issue of the journal, a University of Iowa team reports that a gene called fibulin 5 is associated with 1.7 percent of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) cases. The finding could help researchers develop preventive treatments for people affected by this particular form of AMD -- at least 100,000 in the United States alone. The discovery may also point the way to preventing vision loss in millions of people affected by the many other forms of AMD:
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The University of Iowa Center for Macular Degeneration
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