"If You Develop Macular Degeneration, Risk of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases Increases"

Seongbincent Hospital Ophthalmology Professor Jidonghyun's Team
1.48 Times Higher Dementia Risk, 1.46 Times Higher Parkinson's Risk Compared to General Population
"Advantage of Predicting Future Risk through Retinal Examination"

Professor Jidonghyun Ji, Department of Ophthalmology, St. Vincent's Hospital, Catholic University.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] A study has found that developing macular degeneration increases the risk of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

The ophthalmology team led by Professor Ji Dong-hyun at St. Vincent's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, announced on the 29th that this was confirmed after analyzing data from 300,000 adults aged 50 and older in Korea using the National Health Insurance Service's health screening data.

Macular degeneration is a degeneration occurring in the macula, a part of the eye tissue, and is a representative disease that causes vision loss. If left untreated, it can lead to blindness.

The study found that patients diagnosed with macular degeneration through retinal examination had a 1.48 times higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and a 1.46 times higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease compared to the general population.

In particular, among individuals with healthy lifestyle habits who do not drink or smoke and exercise regularly, the risk of developing Alzheimer's (2.25 times) and Parkinson's disease (2.02 times) was even higher if they had macular degeneration.

Additionally, patients diagnosed with macular degeneration before the age of 70 were found to have a higher risk of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases compared to those diagnosed after 70. Patients diagnosed with macular degeneration after 70 had a 1.53 times higher risk of dementia and a 1.47 times higher risk of Parkinson's disease, whereas those diagnosed before 70 had risks of 1.96 times and 1.90 times, respectively.

Professor Ji Dong-hyun emphasized, "Since patients diagnosed with macular degeneration have a higher risk of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases regardless of lifestyle, they must keep in mind the possibility of developing these diseases and should not neglect screenings."

He added, "Unlike X-rays or CT scans, macular degeneration examinations involve no radiation exposure. Receiving a retinal examination once a year not only provides an opportunity to detect ophthalmic diseases such as macular degeneration early but also helps predict future risks of dementia and Parkinson's disease, which is advantageous."

This study was published in the SCI journal American Journal of Ophthalmology (AJO).

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