Abstract
Presentation Description :
Aging is a natural progression of biological systems, accompanied by structural and/or functional decline. In the retina, advanced age is associated with anatomical changes and deteriorating vision. Aging is a major risk factor for common retinal diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and Glaucoma. Epigenomic alterations in response to environmental and lifestyle factors (such as smoking, exercise and diet), together with genetics, are widely believed to influence metabolic processes linked to biological aging; however, aging-epigenome-metabolism nexus in the retina remains unclear. We previously demonstrated DNA methylation-guided molecular and metabolic alterations in aging rod photoreceptors, suggesting possible avenues to understand retinal aging. To further explore the impact of aging on retinal biology and disease, we have generated transcriptomes and DNA methylomes of 192 postmortem human retina samples [ranging from 19 to 100 years of age] with a goal to elucidate interaction of aging-epigenome with gene expression and AMD-associated genetic variants. In parallel, we are evaluating the influence Mediterranean diet and AREDS nutrients on aging-epigenome and gene expression of the mouse retina. Our studies should provide biomarkers of retinal aging and inspire efforts towards vision preservation in the elderly.
This abstract was presented at the 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, LA, April 23-27, 2023.