Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Systemic Health Problems: A Search For A Modifiable Mediator
Description: Background: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in Canadians. Older adults with AMD may drastically and harmfully reduce their mobility in society, in their neighbourhood, and even in their home due in part to an inability to drive and a fear of falling. In other words, their "life space" may shrink. A restriction in life space may lead to a downward spiral of decreased fitness, depression, frailty, and ultimately, premature death. Objectives: 1) To determine whether patients with AMD are more likely to restrict their life space; 2) To determine whether restricted life space explains previously described relationships between AMD and health problems like frailty, disability, depression, and premature death; 3) To understand the causes of life space restriction. Methods: 150 patients with late-stage, visually impairing AMD will be recruited from Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital in Montreal, Quebec. 300 controls without visually impairing eye disease of the same age will also be recruited from the same Hospital. Data will be collected on life space, exercise, balance, mobility, frailty, depression, vision, comorbid conditions, and social support through questionnaires, clinical tests, and medical records. Mortality over the next year will be obtained through Quebec administrative records. Significance: Knowledge gained from this study will guide the design of a future clinical trial to test whether interventions to modify factors like life space could help keep AMD patients from suffering subsequent systemic health problems. Maintaining life space, although challenging when faced with AMD, may be critical for older adults to maintain their fitness and prevent a downward spiral of deteriorating physical and mental health.
Amount: CA$50,000
Funding type: research
Funder scheme: Catalyst Grant: Pilot Projects in Aging
Start date: 2009-08-01
End date: 2010-07-31
Investigator: Ellen Freeman
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Funded outputs count: 4
Funder award ID: 98996_1
OpenAlex ID: G4434017140