By Taylor, Allen
Loss of central vision is an early sign of age-related macular degeneration (AMD)-which is one of the leading causes of blindness among the elderly. Another kind of vision loss, sometimes occurring in people with diabetes, has been associated with consumption of diets high in “fast” carbs. These carbohydrates are quickly digested and absorbed, resulting in a rapid rise and fall in blood sugar levels. Fast-carb foods include white bread, rice, potatoes, pastas, sugars, and syrups. But whole-grain versions of bread and pasta, and brown rice are considered “slow” carbs and are digested more slowly. Researchers analyzed data taken from more than 4,000 men and women, aged 55 to 80, who are participating in the Age- Related Eye Disease Study. They want to know whether the type of damage to eye tissue produced by fast carbs is similar in both AMD and diabetic eye disease. The goal is to find modifiable risk factors that can help prevent or reduce the effects of aging on eye health. Allen Taylor, USDAARS Laboratory for Nutrition and Vision Research, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts; phone (617) 556-3156, e-mail allen. [email protected].
Allen Taylor, USDAARS Laboratory for Nutrition and Vision Research, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts; phone (617) 556-3156, e- mail allen. [email protected]. Copyright Superintendent of Documents Jul 2008
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