Health
5 ways to preserve your vision as you age, according to an ophthalmologist
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As people age, vision naturally declines and the risk of eye conditions increases. That includes age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a condition that typically occurs in patients older than 50.
AMD is one of the leading causes of vision loss among adults over 60 and impacts millions of Americans, according to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation.
The condition degrades the ability to read, drive and recognize faces. AMD has no cure, so experts advocate for early detection and prevention.
In more advanced stages of AMD, patients may notice wavy straight lines, dark spots in their vision, or blurred central vision, according to ophthalmologist Dr. Vaidehi Dedania at NYU Langone Health.
Vision loss can be particularly difficult for seniors, as impaired eyesight can lead to more falls, decreased mobility and loss of independence, the doctor told Fox News Digital.
Age-related macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of vision loss among adults over 60. (iStock)
“We are moving toward a world where we don’t just react to vision loss — we can intercept it and take measures to delay what used to be inevitable for many patients,” Dedania said.
While the main risk factors for age-related macular degeneration are genetics and aging, the expert shared the following five lifestyle changes that could decrease the risk and severity of the disease.
DOCTOR SHARES 3 SIMPLE CHANGES TO STAY HEALTHY AND INDEPENDENT AS YOU AGE
No. 1: Stop smoking
Smoking is a major risk factor of AMD and can “significantly impact” the risk of vision loss, according to Dedania.
“The oxidative stress from smoking can really affect the retinal cells, and this is what increases someone’s risk of macular deterioration,” she told Fox News Digital. The habit can also speed up AMD’s progression and reduce the effectiveness of treatments.
Smoking can increase the risk of vision loss, according to experts. (iStock)
“We really encourage people who smoke to stop smoking, especially if they have family members with this condition,” the expert told Fox News Digital.
People who stopped smoking 20 years ago may have a risk level similar to those whose risk is based primarily on age and genetics, she noted. “That’s why quitting as early as possible is so important.”
No. 2: Get proper nutrition
Eating a healthy diet can impact the advancement of any disease, including AMD.
Diets high in processed foods, sugar and fat are associated with macular degeneration due to an imbalance of the gut microbiome, according to a recent study by researchers at the University of California, Davis.
COMMON DIABETES DRUG MAY HELP PRESERVE EYESIGHT AS PEOPLE AGE
“These are things that are currently still being explored, but we definitely know that our diet affects our risk of macular degeneration and how advanced it’s going to be,” Dedania told Fox News Digital.
She recommends adding more leafy greens and maintaining a balanced diet to support a healthy gut microbiome. In particular, she is a big advocate of the Mediterranean diet.
Eating a healthy diet can impact the advancement of any disease, including AMD. (iStock)
3. Consider supplements
Certain supplements can decrease the risk of AMD. In particular, AREDS2 is a specific combination of vitamins and minerals used in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2.
In clinical trials, the AREDS2 formula was shown to help slow progression of AMD in people with intermediate or late stages of the disease, according to the National Eye Institute.
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“While patients can take these supplements early on, we really only have data to show that it helps after they’ve already reached the intermediate stage,” Dedania noted.
Certain supplements could help slow progression of AMD in people with intermediate or late stages of the disease. (iStock)
While taking the supplement very early on may not significantly impact risk, it is safe to start anytime as long as patients aren’t doubling up on their vitamins, according to the doctor.
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Dedania noted that earlier formulations of AREDS — without the “2” — included beta-carotene, which has since been removed due to its link to lung cancer in smokers.
“Make sure that you’re finding the supplement that has AREDS2 on it and use that one,” she advised.
4. Exercise regularly
Regular movement is another core pillar of health that can help slow the progression of disease.
“Exercise falls into the overall balance of a healthy lifestyle,” Dedania said.
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“We know that exercise also diminishes oxidative stress, and these are things that we aim to do just for overall well-being — but there are studies that show that it also benefits patients with macular degeneration in terms of their risk of advanced disease.”
Patients should provide their doctor with information on a family history of eye conditions. (iStock)
No. 5: Get regular eye exams
Seeing your eye doctor for routine screenings could be the key to spotting an issue before it’s too late.
With AMD, patients are not typically symptomatic until they’ve reached intermediate or advanced stages of the disease. “Patients may have macular degeneration and they don’t know,” Dedania said.
AMD symptoms, like seeing wavy lines and black dots, don’t occur in early stages, according to an expert. (iStock)
The ophthalmologist reiterated that the disease is not frequently seen in patients under 50, and signs often go undetected in patients over 60.
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“It is important for patients 50 and above to have a general eye exam and come equipped with the knowledge of whether they have family members with macular degeneration,” she advised.
Health
Could ‘humanmaxxing’ actually help you live longer? Here’s what experts say
Medical expert analyzes trending IV therapy, concerns about peptides
Dr. Mike Varshavski joins ‘Fox & Friends’ for Wellness Week, examining trending self-care treatments. He evaluates IV vitamin therapy, highlighting its hospital-critical role versus unproven benefits for general wellness, citing potential risks like vitamin imbalance. Dr. Mike also differentiates creatine, a research-backed supplement, from unregulated peptides marketed with unverified anti-aging and muscle growth promises, urging caution for patients.
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We are officially living in the “maxxing” era.
From “looksmaxxing” to improve appearance to “sleepmaxxing” for better rest, these viral terms all point to the same goal: squeezing every ounce of potential out of a specific trait or habit.
With a growing focus on optimizing wellness and maximizing longevity, the trend has evolved into what’s known as “humanmaxxing,” sparking a bigger question: How far can people go to optimize the human body?
ANTI-AGING BENEFITS LINKED TO ONE SURPRISING HEALTH HABIT
While there is no single definition of humanmaxxing, the trend generally refers to efforts to optimize health, performance and longevity through a combination of lifestyle habits, health tracking, supplements and, in some cases, more experimental interventions.
While there is no single definition of humanmaxxing, the trend generally refers to efforts to optimize health, performance and longevity through a combination of lifestyle habits, health tracking, supplements and, in some cases, more experimental interventions. (iStock)
For some, the movement begins with biohacking. According to Dave Asprey, a Texas-based wellness expert who refers to himself as the “father of biohacking,” optimizing your body starts with changing your environment.
Asprey has defined biohacking as “the art and science of changing the environment around you or inside you so that you have full control of your own biology.”
COULD HUMANS LIVE TO BE 150 YEARS OLD? GENETICIST SHARES WHY IT MAY BE POSSIBLE
His public advice focuses on boosting cellular energy through everyday choices like intermittent fasting, high-fat diets, red-light therapy and supplement routines.
“My goal right now is 180 years, because I’m doing something about it now instead of waiting,” he once said.
Clinical experts warn that extreme self-experimentation skips the rigorous safety checks that typical medical science requires. (iStock)
Others have embraced a more data-driven approach. Tech entrepreneur Bryan Johnson, creator of the multimillion-dollar longevity project Blueprint in Los Angeles, argues that optimizing the body means removing human error from health decisions and instead relying on medical data.
“Methodically, we sought to build an algorithm with science and data that could better care for me than I can myself,” Johnson wrote on his website. “My mind did not have the authority to override the algorithm.”
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Johnson’s routine involves tracking hundreds of health metrics, eating a precisely measured diet, taking dozens of supplements, and undergoing advanced medical treatments in an effort to reduce his biological age.
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At the far end of the spectrum are those investing in technologies aimed at pushing the limits of human performance.
London-based tech investor Christian Angermayer recently described humanmaxxing as a strategy toward human maximization.
Tech entrepreneur Bryan Johnson, creator of the multimillion-dollar longevity project Blueprint, argues that optimizing the body means removing human error from health decisions and instead relying on medical data. (iStock)
“I don’t think we should become something different, because I think humans are awesome, but I think we can maximize the potential [that] is already in us,” he said in an interview with The New York Times.
Angermayer’s investment firm, Apeiron Investment Group, focuses on technologies intended to help people “live longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives.” He also founded atai Life Sciences, a biotechnology company that develops psychedelic treatments for mental health conditions that are currently being evaluated in clinical trials.
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As interest in humanmaxxing grows, mainstream health experts urge consumers to separate evidence-based wellness practices from experimental interventions.
Public guidance from the National Institute on Aging notes that while some anti-aging therapies have shown promise in laboratory research, there is not yet sufficient evidence that they can safely extend human life.
As interest in humanmaxxing grows, mainstream health experts urge consumers to separate evidence-based wellness practices from experimental interventions. (iStock)
Clinical experts also caution that extreme self-experimentation can bypass the rigorous safety standards applied to conventional medical treatments.
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According to the Endocrine Society, taking substances such as testosterone or growth hormone without a medical need can lead to serious health risks, including cardiovascular complications and long-term disruption of the body’s chemical balance.
While many humanmaxxing habits overlap with standard healthy lifestyle practices, experts say consumers should be cautious of expensive or experimental interventions that promise dramatic anti-aging or longevity benefits without strong scientific evidence.
Health
New blood test detects 90% of aggressive prostate cancer cases, beating current screenings
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A new test could make it easier to detect high-risk prostate cancer cases earlier.
The blood test, called Stockholm3, is showing promise in clinical trials, beating out the traditional, standard prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test.
In a new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden studied the test’s efficacy in more than 12,000 men — mostly Swedish or European — aged 50 to 74.
NEW PROSTATE CANCER TEST PINPOINTS DISEASE BETTER THAN PSA OPTION, STUDY FINDS
All participants were tested with PSA and Stockholm3 and were followed for two years. During the follow-up period, 443 men were diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer.
Stockholm3 detected 90% of aggressive prostate cancer cases compared to 74% for PSA tests.
Stockholm3 detected 90% of aggressive prostate cancer cases compared to 74% for PSA tests. (iStock)
Stockholm3 missed “significantly fewer” serious cancer cases than PSA. The number of men incorrectly classified as high-risk was similar across both tests, according to a press release.
Thorgerdur Palsdottir, a researcher at the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, wrote in a statement that one of the major challenges in prostate cancer is being able to identify the cases that are “truly dangerous.”
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“Our results show that Stockholm3 identifies significantly more aggressive cancer cases than PSA without increasing the number of unnecessary follow-ups,” she said.
“These results point toward a potential change in how prostate cancer screening can be conducted,” the researcher added. “A more precise blood test could enable earlier detection of aggressive disease while reducing the number of unnecessary follow-up examinations and procedures.”
“A more precise blood test could enable earlier detection of aggressive disease while reducing the number of unnecessary follow-up examinations and procedures,” a researcher commented. (iStock)
Study co-author Hari Vigneswaran, chief medical officer of Stockholm3-maker A3P Biomedical, commented on these “promising” findings in an interview with Fox News Digital.
PROSTATE CANCER SCREENING AFTER 70: EXPERTS QUESTION GUIDANCE AFTER BIDEN’S DIAGNOSIS
He confirmed that the PSA has been the standard for prostate cancer screening since the 1990s despite its “well-documented limitations.”
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“It leads to invasive and costly follow-up testing, contributes to over-diagnosis of non-aggressive cancers and, most importantly, it misses a substantial share of aggressive disease,” Vigneswaran said.
When aggressive prostate cancer is found while still confined in the prostate, the five-year survival is close to 100%. (iStock)
When aggressive prostate cancer is found while still confined in the prostate, the five-year survival rate is close to 100%, which highlights the importance of early detection, according to the doctor.
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Data from the National Cancer Institute’s SEER database show that metastatic prostate cancer has risen over the past decade, suggesting that “we have not improved early detection of the aggressive, curable disease that screening is meant to catch,” Vigneswaran said.
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“The goal of screening is to find the cancers that need treatment while they are still curable, without raising the number of men who screen positive but don’t have aggressive disease,” he said.
Stockholm3 could reduce the need for unnecessary MRIs and biopsies, according to the researcher. (Getty Images)
Stockholm3 could reduce the need for unnecessary MRIs and biopsies, according to the researcher.
The findings did have some limitations. Stockholm3 is an investigational device and is not available for sale in the U.S., Vigneswaran noted.
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The test estimates a man’s risk of aggressive prostate cancer, but a biopsy remains the gold standard for confirming the disease.
The company plans to seek FDA approval to use the test for routine screening and will “generate the evidence needed to support that pathway, including U.S. data,” Vigneswaran said.
Health
This Protein Smoothie Trick Helps Women Over 40 Lose Twice as Much Fat
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