Abstract
ABSTRACTPhotoreceptors and their supporting retinal pigment epithelium constitute the key functional parts of the retina. Here, a study was undertaken to show how aging and lifestyle factors affect the photoreceptor layer and the retinal pigment epithelium and Bruch’s membrane complex (RPE-BM) in vivo in a healthy Danish population using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. This was a cross-sectional study of healthy humans aged ≥50 years. All participants were interviewed for medical history and lifestyle factors. Maculae of all participants were scanned using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. The thickness of the photoreceptor layer and the RPE-BM was measured on one eye from each participant. In 150 eyes of 150 participants, it was found that aging was associated with a decrease in the thickness of the photoreceptor layer (−0.143 μm/year, P = 0.031) and an increase in the thickness of the RPE-BM layer (0.100 μm/year, P = 0.029) at the foveal minimum. Regarding lifestyle factors, alcohol intake or BMI were not associated with any significant trend, but physical inactivity and smoking had effects on the photoreceptor layer (decreased thickness) and the RPE-BM layer (increased thickness) indicating an accelerated aging process of the macula. Taken together, aging affects photoreceptors and the RPE-BM, and these aging trends are accelerated in smokers and the physically inactive.
Highlights
Photoreceptors and the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) constitute the starting point of the visual system
We evaluated how aging and lifestyle factors correlate with thicknesses of the photoreceptor layer and the retinal pigment epithelium and Bruch’s membrane complex (RPE-BM) layer in a healthy Danish population consisting of 150 aged participants
In this in vivo study of humans, we found that aging was associated with a thinning of the photoreceptor layer and a thickening of the RPE-BM layer at the foveal minimum
Summary
Photoreceptors and the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) constitute the starting point of the visual system. Photoreceptors react upon light stimulus whereas the RPE supports the tightly packed and metabolic-demanding photoreceptors allowing a high-resolution vision. Photoreceptors are elongated cone- or rod-shaped cells that synapse with bipolar cells of the inner retina to pass on information on light stimulus. The RPE consists of a monolayer of highly pigmented cubical cells. RPE microvilli extend and interact with the photoreceptor tips for support. RPE is in close contact with Bruch’s membrane for barrier function forming an RPE-Bruch’s membrane (RPE-BM) complex. Aging and dysfunction of this system is closely linked to diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, which is the leading cause of irreversible vision loss in the developed world [1,2]. Risk factors include lifestyle factors such as physical inactivity and smoking [2,3]
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