Levodopa shows promise against macular degeneration

(HealthDay)— Levodopa (L-dopa) might hold potential for preventing or treating macular degeneration, according to a study published online Oct. 30 in The American Journal of Medicine.

Researchers analyzed medical records of 37,000 patients from a Wisconsin clinic. The researchers looked for signs whether or not those who took levodopa had lower rates of age-related macular degeneration. They also examined a medical database of 87 million people.

The researchers found that diagnosis of age-related macular degeneration occurred, in general, around age 71. But among those who took levodopa, it occurred much later, at around age 79.

According to lead author Brian S. McKay, Ph.D., an associate professor of ophthalmology and vision science at the University of Arizona in Tucson, the drug may affect development of age-related macular degeneration by protecting photoreceptors.