Genetic factors associated with the development of age-related macular degeneration

• Main Authors: Olga Sergejeva, Roman Botov, Rasa Liutkevičienė, Loresa Kriaučiūnienė
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2016-01-01
• Series: Medicina
• Subjects: Early and late age-related macular degeneration; Risk factors; Genes
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1010660X16000227

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects the macula and is the leading cause of significant and irreversible central visual loss. It is the most common cause of visual loss in people aged more than 60 years. This disease affects 2.5 million individuals in Europe. AMD is caused by both environmental and genetic factors. Numerous risk factors have been reported, but the pathogenesis of AMD is complex and fairly understood. Age, female gender, obesity, race, education status, family history, hyperopia, iris color, cigarette smoking, previous cataract surgery, history of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, diabetes, sunlight exposure and many other factors have been shown to be associated with AMD development. Scientific evidence shows that genes may play a role in the development of nearly 3 out of 4 cases of this devastating eye disease. The genes that have been shown to be associated with AMD are genes encoding complement system components such as CFH, C2, C3, CFB, and other.