Age-related macular degeneration is the most common cause of elderly blindness, a disease that damages the central retina called the macula. It is a condition in which oxidative stress and chronic inflammation cause fat deposits to accumulate beneath the retinal pigment epithelium, leading to progressive loss of central vision as the photoreceptors in the optic nerve are damaged.
Curcumin is a compound found in the root stalk of turmeric, the spice used in curry dishes, and has antioxidant effects. Recently, a paper analyzing the preventive effect of curcumin on age-related macular degeneration was published in the ophthalmology section of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The study analyzed electronic medical records from 1,876,244 people collected across 15 countries, including the United States. The average age of the participants was approximately 66 years, with about 60% being women. Among them, 66,804 individuals had been prescribed nutritional supplements containing curcumin, while 1,809,440 had not.
As a result of an average 5-year follow-up observation, people who were prescribed curcumin experienced 72-77% fewer cases of macular degeneration across different types compared to those who did not receive it. In cases where vision loss occurred early, it was reduced by 54%. Even among patients who already had macular degeneration, the progression of the disease was decreased by 42%.
Curcumin has strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, which are believed to inhibit the production of reactive oxygen species and reduce inflammation, thereby potentially preventing macular degeneration. To prevent macular degeneration, quitting smoking is essential, and a diet rich in antioxidants from vegetables and fish is recommended. Eating curry containing turmeric frequently may also be helpful.
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Spaces appear in the middle of words in books or newspapers.
The center of my vision appears black.
Macular degeneration that makes the building look distorted
If symptoms worsen, it can lead to blindness.
I am taking curcumin for its anti-inflammatory effects.
They say it helps if you eat curry.
