Gene Variant Can Double Risk of AMD

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Almost one-third of the population carries one copy of what's known as the "fast" variant of the gene that increases their risk of AMD by 70 percent. The 4 percent of people with two copies of the "fast" variant had more than double the risk of AMD. This "fast" variant increased the risk of both forms of the disease, the researchers found.

"A complement is a chemical that is responsible for inflammation in certain parts of the body," Cykiert explained. "Everyone has different types of complement genes, and they found that people who have the C3 complement gene have a much higher risk for AMD."

The results also provide evidence that inflammation is part of the disease process in AMD.

"It is clear from the results of this study and other recent research that inflammation plays a key role in AMD," Moore said. "The next step in the research will be to try and understand why a disturbance in the complement system, a key component of the immune system, leads to macular degeneration. We are also trying to identify other genes that are involved in AMD."

"It has been suggested that inflammation is associated with some eye diseases, and AMD in particular, and that C3 is involved in the regulation of that inflammatory process," said Warren Zimmer, a professor of systems biology and translational medicine at Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine. "This is saying that inflammation may not just be associated with AMD, it's likely a causing factor. We are becoming more aware that an inflammatory process is underlying AMD. Current and future treatments could include treatments for inflammatory processes," Zimmer said.

More information

For more on age-related macular degeneration, visit the U.S. National Eye Institute.