Advanced-Glycation End Products and Macular Degradation in Retinal Aging

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of severe vision loss and blindness worldwide affecting people over 65 years with 80% of the patients' affected after the age of 70. Among other factors that influence AMD, production of advanced-glycation end products (AGEs) plays a crucial role. AGEs are toxic compounds formed from the combination of sugars and their metabolites with biomolecules in a non-enzymatic biochemical reaction called glycation. Accumulation of AGEs is a major contributor of ocular cataracts formed by aggregation of glycated proteins and impaired protein function. The role of AGEs in causing aging changes and neovascularization calls for the use of AGE Inhibitors to treat AMD. Aldose reductase (ALR2) the major contributor of diabetic complications act as an interlink to induce pathogenesis, including rapid generation of AGEs. Aldose reductase inhibitors (ARIs) act as multi-target drugs, targeting different inducers of the pathological pathway that cause macular degradation. The review necessitates the need for repurposing ARIs to control the generation of AGEs that could contribute to the delay of macular degradation in aging. Copyright (c) 2023, Asian Association for Frailty and Sarcopenia and Taiwan Association for Integrated Care. Published by Full Universe Integrated Marketing Limited.