Reduced Age-Related Cataracts Among Elderly Persons Who Reach Age 90 With Preserved Cognition: A Biomarker of Successful Aging?

Tissue damage due to oxidative stress has been implicated in aging, memory loss, and cataract formation. We hypothesized that persons who achieved exceptional longevity with preserved cognition (successful aging [SAG]) would exhibit a lower rate of age-related cataract (ARC) than the general populat...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences Biological sciences and medical sciences, 2007-05, Vol.62 (5), p.500-506
Main Authors: Zubenko, George S., Zubenko, Wendy N., Maher, Brion S., Wolf, Norman S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged, 80 and over
Aging
Aging - physiology
Biomarkers - analysis
Cataract - epidemiology
Cataract - physiopathology
Cataracts
Chi-Square Distribution
Cognition - physiology
Female
Humans
Incidence
Male
Older people
Oxidative Stress
Proportional Hazards Models
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors
Studies
Womens health
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Summary:Tissue damage due to oxidative stress has been implicated in aging, memory loss, and cataract formation. We hypothesized that persons who achieved exceptional longevity with preserved cognition (successful aging [SAG]) would exhibit a lower rate of age-related cataract (ARC) than the general population. The age-specific rates of ARC for a group of 100 (50 male, 50 female) elderly persons who reached at least age 90 years with preserved cognition were compared to the corresponding rates of ARC reported in five population-based studies. The principal finding of this report was that the SAG group manifested a significant reduction in the age-specific rate and lifetime cumulative incidence of ARC compared to the general population. Steroid use, alcohol consumption, gout, and skin lesions resulting from excessive sun exposure emerged as risk factors. Our findings suggest that the progressive development of lens opacities may be reflective of degenerative events occurring more generally throughout the body.
ISSN:1079-5006
1758-535X
DOI:10.1093/gerona/62.5.500