Research: It is never too late to make lifestyle changes
New research has found that making lifestyle changes can reduce people's chances of developing eye diseases even in old age, health insurance customers have been told.
Research published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology found that giving up smoking at any age reduces the risk of women developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
It studied females over the age of 80 and found that carrying on with this habit continues to raise the risk of going blind through the disease.
Dr Anne Coleman, lead author and a professor of ophthalmology, claims that this is a measure of hope for everybody.
She says: "The take-home message is that it's never too late to quit smoking."
While age is the highest risk factor for the disease, smoking is the second key contributor to the condition, which is the leading cause of blindness for over-65s living in the US.
Dr Coleman states: "Our population was considerably older than those previously studied. This research provides the first accurate snapshot of how smoking affects AMD risk later in life."
It hypothesises that cigarette smoking increases this risk by cutting the level of serum antioxidant, which can alter blood flow to the eyes and lower the level of retinal pigments in them.
The sample for the group consisted of 1,958 women with a baseline exam at age 78 who underwent retinal photographs every five years.
Out of this group, approximately four per cent were smokers - a total of 75 of the total sample.
Amanda Sandford, research manager at Action on Smoking and Health, recently advised health insurance customers that there is very little benefit to smokers continuing their habit when it provides them with nothing.
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Posted by Stephen Tate 
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