This simple fatty acid could restore failing vision

A groundbreaking study in mice suggests a targeted fatty acid supplement could reverse cellular aging in the eye and restore lost vision. | Contesto: cronaca

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• This simple fatty acid could restore failing vision

Contesto

Scientists at the University of California, Irvine, have identified a potential pathway to reverse age-related vision loss, demonstrating in mice that supplementing with specific polyunsaturated fatty acids can restore visual function and reverse signs of cellular aging in the retina. The research, published in the journal Science, centers on a gene called ELOVL2, which is known to become increasingly active with age and is linked to the deterioration of photoreceptor cells essential for sight. The team's experiments revealed that the overactivity of the ELOVL2 gene disrupts the production of vital long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids within the retina. This deficiency is a direct contributor to the degeneration of photoreceptors, the light-sensing cells at the back of the eye. "We've long known that certain fats like DHA are important for eye health, but this shows the problem is more specific," explained the study's lead investigator. "It's not just a general lack of omega-3s; it's the precise depletion of a subset of these molecules that the aging gene controls." In a series of controlled trials, older mice with documented vision loss were given oral supplements containing the exact fatty acids whose production is governed by ELOVL2. Remarkably, the treatment not only halted further retinal decline but led to measurable improvements. Electroretinography tests, which measure electrical responses in retinal cells, showed significant recovery of function. Perhaps more strikingly, molecular analysis indicated a reversal of epigenetic aging markers in the eye tissue, suggesting the intervention addressed a fundamental aging mechanism. The significance of this finding extends beyond ophthalmology into the broader field of aging biology. The ELOVL2 gene is implicated in aging processes in other tissues, including the skin and brain. Successfully targeting its downstream effects in the eye provides a proof-of-concept that could inform therapies for other age-related conditions. "We are not just slowing degeneration; we are seeing a restoration of function by replenishing molecules that youthfully abundant," a senior author on the paper noted. This approach...

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Categoria: cronaca