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.

“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.

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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.

“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.

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“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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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In addition to travel and logistical challenges, heavy snowfall  can be detrimental to people’s health.

As the northeast faces historic snow accumulation this week, experts are warning of the physical risks of shoveling heavy snow, particularly for those who do not exercise regularly or have pre-existing health conditions.

“The combination of the wet, heavy snow and the heavy winds make it more of a health risk because it’s much harder to get around,” Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel told Fox News Digital.

“In the aftermath of the storm, as the temperatures drop, the heavy, wet snow forms ice, which makes walking and driving treacherous.”

Heavy, wet snow can get inside clothes and cause “more of a chill,” potentially leading to hypothermia in severe cases, according to Siegel.

In a Monday appearance on “Fox & Friends,” the doctor stressed the importance of being properly dressed in these conditions.

“I saw this morning people who weren’t covered properly … weren’t wearing gloves, didn’t have the full hat, or the kind of overcoat they needed,” he said.

“The combination of the wet, heavy snow and the heavy winds make it more of a health risk.”

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“They also weren’t looking out for each other. You need to look out for each other. With this kind of wind, you get really easily discombobulated.”

Siegel urged people to stay indoors unless it’s absolutely necessary to leave their home.

“Watch out if you are outside for brief periods — for fallen power lines or for trees that are down. That’s very, very dangerous as well,” he cautioned. “That’s where a lot of the injuries come from.”

There’s also an increased risk of falling, as well as electrocution from power lines being weighed down by heavy snow. Going without power poses its own health risks, Siegel mentioned.

Dr. Joshua Latzman, cardiologist at White Plains Hospital Physician Associates in White Plains, New York, shared with the American Heart Association (AMA) that research has shown heavy snow shoveling can put “significant stress on the heart.”

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“In frigid temperatures, that added strain can increase the risk of a heart-related event,” he said. “This can be especially dangerous for people who are out of shape or not used to strenuous activity.”

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Shoveling in the wind can also increase the risk of a health event, since exposure to colder air can raise blood pressure and constrict the coronary arteries, according to the AMA.

“Many heart-related events occur in people who are usually inactive,” Latzman went on. “When someone who is sedentary suddenly takes on heavy shoveling after a storm, that unexpected strain can unfortunately lead to a serious emergency.”

Straining to lift something heavy can have the same effect if normal breathing is impacted.

Other at-risk groups include people who are obese, those who smoke or have smoked in the past, people with diabetes, and those with high cholesterol or high blood pressure. Anyone who has previously had a heart attack or stroke is also at greater risk, the AMA reported.

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“Anyone with these characteristics, including people who have undergone bypass surgery or coronary angioplasty, should not be shoveling snow,” Latzman concluded.

Siegel urged those who may be at risk to avoid going out with their shovels and “being a hero.”

“It’s about the most cardiac expenditure of energy that you can have,” he said. “So if you’ve been sedentary, don’t go and shovel. Get a younger person or somebody who’s in much better shape to do it.”

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If shoveling is unavoidable, experts advise doing it gradually and at a comfortable pace. The AMA also suggests covering your mouth and nose and dressing in layers, including a hat and gloves.

Pushing or sweeping the snow is safer than lifting and throwing, as it requires less energy.

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A simple blood test could predict not only a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, but also the year symptoms will begin.

Researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis set out to determine if levels of a specific protein in the blood could be used as a “biological clock” to predict when signs of the disease will emerge.

The specific protein, known as p-tau217, forms “tangles” in the brain that disrupt communication between nerve cells. In a healthy brain, tau helps to stabilize the structure of nerve cells.

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In some cases, brain scans can be used to detect these tangles when diagnosing Alzheimer’s. Preliminary studies have suggested that the same method could be used to determine a progression timeline.

As these imaging tests are often complex and expensive, the research team wanted to explore whether a blood test could monitor the same proteins and produce similar results.

The study, published in the journal Nature Medicine, analyzed data from more than 600 older adults enrolled in two long-term Alzheimer’s research projects.

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By comparing blood samples with participants’ cognitive performance over several years, the team found that p-tau217 levels rise in a “remarkably consistent” pattern long before memory loss begins, according to a press release.

The team then created a model that uses a patient’s age and protein levels to estimate when symptoms will appear, with a margin of error of three to four years.

“We show that a single blood test measuring p-tau217 can provide a rough estimate of when an individual is likely to develop symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease,” lead author Kellen K. Petersen, PhD, instructor of neurology at Washington University in St. Louis, told Fox News Digital.

The researchers found that older adults developed symptoms much more rapidly after p-tau217 became abnormal, he noted.

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“For example, people who first had abnormal p-tau217 levels around age 60 didn’t develop Alzheimer’s symptoms for about 20 years, whereas those who first had abnormal p-tau217 levels around age 80 developed symptoms after only about 10 years,” Petersen said. 

This suggests that age and disease-related changes in the brain can influence how quickly Alzheimer’s symptoms become apparent, the researcher concluded.

“At this point, we do not recommend that any cognitively unimpaired individuals have any Alzheimer’s disease biomarker test.”

“This could transform how researchers design clinical trials and, eventually, how clinicians identify people at highest risk for cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer’s years before decline begins,” Chicago-based Rebecca M. Edelmayer, PhD, vice president of scientific engagement at the Alzheimer’s Association, told Fox News Digital.

“A blood test is generally much less expensive and easier to administer than a brain scan or spinal‑fluid test. In the future, it could help doctors and researchers identify people who may benefit from early treatments,” added Edelmayer, who was not involved in the study.

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The study did have some limitations and caveats.

“We were only able to make predictions for individuals whose p-tau217 levels fell within a certain range, although it was a fairly wide range,” Petersen shared. “The models were developed in relatively healthy and well-educated research cohorts that were not diverse, so the results may not apply well to the broader population.”

While the researchers referenced in-home blood tests in this study, they cautioned against people seeking out and taking these tests themselves.

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“At this point, we do not recommend that any cognitively unimpaired individuals have any Alzheimer’s disease biomarker test,” Dr. Suzanne Schindler, a neurologist at Washington University who was a co-author of the study, said in the press release.

Peterson acknowledged that these results are still experimental and ripe for improvement.

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“The current estimate is not yet accurate enough for clinical use or personal medical decision-making, but we expect that it will be possible to create more accurate models,” he told Fox News Digital.

Looking ahead, the team hopes to refine the test by researching other Alzheimer’s-linked proteins to narrow the margin of error, Schindler said. More diverse participants are also needed to confirm the results.

Two large clinical trials are now in progress, aiming to determine whether people with high levels of this protein can benefit from treatment with one of two Alzheimer’s drugs before symptoms appear.

Lecanemab and donanemab are the only approved drugs designed to reduce levels of plaques in the brain associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers hope that treating people earlier may boost the drugs’ effectiveness.

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“There are many other blood and imaging biomarkers, as well as cognitive tests, that we can combine with plasma p-tau217 to improve the accuracy of predicting symptom onset,” Petersen said. “We hope this work will lead to even better models that will be useful to individuals.”