Vision changes are an inevitable part of aging, but why are some more susceptible to age-related eye diseases and why do some individuals experience more severe decline than others? New research from The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) reveals that genetics play a key role in how the eye ages, with different genetic backgrounds influencing retinal aging in distinct ways.
The study, published in Molecular Neurodegeneration, examined age-related changes in genes and proteins of the retinas of nine strains of mice, mimicking the genetic variability found in humans. While all mice exhibited expected signs of aging, the severity and nature of these changes varied significantly between the nine strains.
A more accurate approach to model eye aging
Traditionally, studies of retinal aging and disease have relied on…