Macular Degeneration and Mitochondria

Although progress is being made, currently there is no medical treatment for dry age related macular degeneration or treatment that can impact the progression of drusen formation or the development of the advanced form of dry AMD called geographic atrophy.

A new strategy, targeting the mitochondria, using the drug elamipretide is "restoring electron transport to improve cellular energy production and reduce oxidative stress ...." according to Stealth BioTherapuetics who has just completed enrollment in their Phase 2 ReCLAIM-2 clinical trial.

Dry Macular Degeneration Research

Several clinical trials are seeking to find answers on how to treat dry macular degeneration, the most common form of age related macular degeneration. While dry AMD is considered to have less severe vision loss of the two main types of AMD, when it progresses to intermediate AMD or to the more advanced geographic atrophy, vision is impacted in many different ways. Scott Cousins, MD, believes mitochondrial dysfunction plays a key role in this degenerative retinal condition.

"We propose that mitochondrial dysfunction induced by environmental toxicants is a fundamental risk factor for, and a hypothesis for, the etiology of dry AMD. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in the etiology of dry AMD. Mitochondria are located along the basal retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) near drusen. Mitochondrial dysmorphology observed in RPE in eyes with AMD is consistent with severe dysfunction, and mitochondrial DNA from these eyes demonstrate increased oxidative damage."

Scott W. Cousins, MD, Robert Machemer Professor of Ophthalmology and professor in immunology at Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.

Find out more about this latest breakthrough in dry AMD research ...

Elamipretide to Target Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Dry Macular Degeneration

Leslie Degner, RN, BSN

Better Health for Better Vision

www.WebRN-MacularDegeneration.com

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