Macular pigment density and aging, assessed in the normal elderly and those with cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.
OBJECTIVE
Increasing evidence has linked retinal lutein and zeaxanthin (termed macular pigment, MP) to the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Currently, however, studies differ regarding the question of whether MP declines with age or age has an effect in patient populations being assessed. This study assessed MP across the lifespan with an emphasis on assessing MP in a cross-section of elderly including those with lenticular or age-related macular degeneration, or both.


METHODS
Prospective, observational, cross-sectional study.


METHODS



METHODS
Institution.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study of normal, cataractous, and AMD subjects tested in Indianapolis, Indiana, including 390 subjects, 22 with cataracts and 59 with age-related macular degeneration.


METHODS
MP density was measured with a one-degree diameter test field at 460 nm using a psychophysical method based on heterochromatic flicker photometry.


METHODS
MP optical density.


RESULTS
MP does not appear to change as a function of age (r = +.04) when examining subjects across the lifespan (from 18-88 years). There was a slight tendency (slope = -.0027, r = -.11) for MP to decline when only the elderly subjects were considered, but this trend was not significant (P < .12) for any of the groups considered (normal, cataractous, or AMD).


CONCLUSIONS
MP does not change significantly with age, even when elderly subjects with cataracts and AMD are considered. Using heterochromic flicker photometry, elderly subjects display a full range of MP density that is similar to young subjects.
Ciulla
Thomas A
TA
Retina Service, Midwest Eye Institute, Methodist Medical Plaza North, Indianapolis, Indiana 46280, USA. thomasciulla@yahoo.com <thomasciulla@yahoo.com>
Hammond
Billy R
BR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D002386:Cataract / Q000378:metabolism*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D014975:Lutein / Q000378:metabolism*; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D010783:Photometry; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012168:Retinal Pigments / Q000378:metabolism*; D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism*
D012168:Retinal Pigments; D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D019207:beta Carotene; D014975:Lutein