Age-related vision loss is reduced by fatty acid injection therapy

Very long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (VLC-PUFAs), that are necessary for healthy membranes of cells in the eye, are long-chain fats which the retina loses with age. Researchers focused on one lipid, 24:5n-3, and directly injected it into older mice's retinas to restore it. ^[1]

Why It Matters

Better vision, less inflammation, and signs of a "younger" molecular profile in the eye are the results.

Researchers examined the whole biology behind this as well.

ELOVL2, an enzyme which helps in the creation of VLC-PUFAs, gets less active as people age. Early vision issues were seen in mice that were genetically modified to lack this enzyme.

Variants of the ELOVL2 gene were linked to an earlier development of intermediate macular degeneration in humans. All that is showing that certain people may be genetically predisposed to this kind of age-related vision loss. ^[2]

We could potentially identify people at higher risk for vision loss progression.

― Dorota Skowronska-Krawczyk

What to Keep in Mind

The researchers note out that more research would be necessary if this type of therapy were used on humans. They might have to figure out the right dosage, how frequently to apply it, as well as create simpler delivery systems, like eye drops rather than injections.