Searching for Ways to Prevent Age-Related Vision Loss
Ray and Maxine Blanchard, Manhattan, hope that K-State research can prevent vision loss from age-related macular degeneration.
Ray Blanchard isn’t complaining about his life.
In fact, the 83-year-old from Manhattan lives quite happily with his wife of 60 years, Maxine. The couple have three grown children and now grandchildren. In his younger years, Ray successfully managed operations for an oil and gas company.
But for the past 15 years, Ray also has struggled with central vision loss, a condition known as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The condition worsens over time, and there is no known cure.
"I can still work all day long," said Ray, "but I can’t see very well. So I’m restricted. I can’t go out alone, and that’s just not my nature."
According to the Macular Degeneration Foundation Inc., 12 million Americans are affected by this disease. The Foundation reports that in the United States, one more person is diagnosed with AMD every three minutes, and one in six people between the ages of 55 and 64 – and one in three over age 75 – are affected.
Blanchard says AMD has robbed him of routine things he had previously enjoyed, such as attending Lion’s Club meetings and helping at club-sponsored breakfasts, driving, and even playing simple card games.
"The last couple of years have been the worst," he said. "My vision has gotten worse; that, and you just don’t get interested in the things that you used to do."
Carol Ann Holcomb, a K-State Research and Extension foods and nutrition researcher, has conducted studies since the 1990s to help uncover preventive strategies for AMD.
"Consumption of foods high in lutein and zeaxanthin (important carotenoids for eye health) appear to offer some protection against the risk for the more advanced form of AMD," Holcomb said. "It is thought that lutein in the diet contributes to a higher density of the macular pigment as well as the antioxidant activity of lutein."
Holcomb’s research, however, has found that a typical Kansans’ diet is
"very low" in the nutrients needed for
eye health.
That’s why she continues promoting such foods as green leafy vegetables, orange and yellow fruits and vegetables, egg yolks, and corn. She’s hoping that further findings will convince Kansans – and others – to make these foods a bigger part of a their daily diet.
"In the young and middle adult years, vision health is often taken for granted," Holcomb said. "But the stage is being set for degenerative processes that manifest themselves later in life. Good nutrition is good for the eyes as well as the heart, brains, lungs, and bones."
"If we can find ways to prevent tissue damage, we could reduce the burden of blindness to individuals, families, and our society."
Carol Ann Holcomb
785-532-0152
carolann@k-state.edu
Patenting Stem Cell Research
K-State scientists have discovered stem cells in the umbilical cord matrix of pigs that may help address such human health issues as Parkinson’s disease, stroke, heart disease, cancer, and more. Stem cells also may be useful for drug discovery and for screening drugs for safety and effectiveness. Other possibilities include
the use of stem cells to prevent disease in livestock, to create better vaccines, and to increase the efficiency of food production. K-State has patents pending on methods to harvest, grow, and store umbilical cord matrix stem cells, and the use of the matrix cells for therapy or tissue engineering.
Duane Davis
785-532-1224
Aid for Seniors, Economy
A food stamp program to help senior citizens eat healthier has contributed approximately $110,000 to the economies of the 18 north-central Kansas counties where it has been tested.
K-State Research and Extension has worked with other state agencies to help increase participation in the Kansas Food Assistance Program. Research shows the average benefit to each person in the program is $563 per year.
Mary Meck Higgins
785-532-1671