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Evaluation of an oral telomerase activator for early age-related macular degeneration - a pilot study.
- Source :
-
Clinical Ophthalmology . Jan2016, Vol. 10, p243-249. 7p. - Publication Year :
- 2016
-
Abstract
- Purpose: Telomere attrition and corresponding cellular senescence of the retinal pigment epithelium contribute to the changes of age-related macular degeneration. Activation of the enzyme telomerase can add telomeric DNA to retinal pigment epithelium chromosomal ends and has been proposed as a treatment for age-related macular degeneration. We report the use of a small molecule, oral telomerase activator (TA)-65 in early macular degeneration. This study, focusing on early macular degeneration, provides a model for the use of TAs in age-related disease. Method: Thirty-eight (38) patients were randomly assigned to a 1-year, double-blinded, placebo-controlled interventional study with arms for oral TA-65 or placebo. Macular functions via micro-perimetry were the primary measured outcomes. Results: The macular function in the arm receiving the TA-65 showed significant improvement relative to the placebo control. The improvement was manifest at 6 months and was maintained at 1 year: macular threshold sensitivity (measured as average dB [logarithmic decibel scale of light attenuation]) improved 0.97 dB compared to placebo (P-value 0.02) and percent reduced thresholds lessened 8.2% compared to the placebo arm (P-value 0.04). Conclusion: The oral TA significantly improved the macular function of treatment subjects compared to controls. Although this study was a pilot and a larger study is being planned, it is noteworthy in that it is, to our knowledge, the first randomized placebo-controlled study of a TA supplement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 11775467
- Volume :
- 10
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Clinical Ophthalmology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 112937036
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.2147/OPTH.S100042