Pomegranates could delay age-related vision loss
Published: Thursday, Jul 4th 2024, 11:00
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A natural compound from pomegranates could be a key to treating age-related vision loss. As researchers at the University of Freiburg have discovered in a study on mice, the common macular degeneration could be slowed down with the compound urolithin A.
The urolithin A contained in pomegranates and other fruits activates specific mechanisms in the cells that help to regulate the degradation and recycling of cellular waste. This was announced by the University of Freiburg on Thursday.
According to the university, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the main cause of blindness in people over 50 in industrialized countries. It manifests itself through difficulties in perceiving details, particularly in the center of the image.
Cell purification suffers with ageing
The retina, the light-sensitive part of the eye, requires a lot of energy to function. Most of this energy is provided by the mitochondria, the power plants of the cells.
With increasing age, the mitochondria function less well, especially due to damage caused by light on the retina. At the same time, waste disposal, which breaks down damaged cells, functions less well.
This leads to the accumulation of non-functioning mitochondria and protein aggregates. This ultimately leads to the collapse of the so-called retinal pigment epithelium and thus to loss of vision.
Urolithin A stimulates cell cleansing again, as the researchers were able to show. At least in mice. These findings were published in the journal "Molecular Neurodegeneration".
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