Macular Degeneration
New research reveals that regular exercise helps to prevent
a type of age related macular degeneration - an eye disease that
can cause blindness.
 |
A Fitness Vision
By WLR Dietitian
|
Regular exercise doesn’t just keep us fit and slim. New
research published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology
reveals it also helps to prevent a particular type of
age related macular degeneration – an eye disease that can cause
blindness.
The study included almost 4,000 American adults and looked at
the number of cases of age-related macular degeneration that
occurred over 15 years.
The researchers found that those adults with an active
lifestyle were 70 percent less likely to develop the condition
compared to those who had sedentary lifestyles. The authors say
other factors such as diet may explain the findings but they add
that exercise helps to reduce inflammation and abnormalities in
the cells that line the arteries, both of which are linked to
the condition.
People who are physically active tend to be biologically
younger than those who are lazy, and this could be important as
age-related macular degeneration is associated with ageing.
WLR says…
This is an interesting study, although more
research needs to be carried out to confirm the findings.
One of the encouraging findings from this study is that it
wasn’t gym workouts or exhausting activities that were
protective. The benefits were seen in those people who regularly
walked and were more active in their daily life.
As a guideline, everyone should aim to do 30 minutes of
moderately intense activity five times a week – that’s the
equivalent of walking fast. But if you really want to burn
calories, you should aim to exercise for a little longer and
work as hard as you can.
|
