Aging of the retina. Report 2

PURPOSE. To study the formation and progression of earlystage retinopathy (RP) under the influence of the age factor (AF).

METHODS. A statistical analysis was conducted on data from a prospective observational study (2008–2013) involving a natural cohort of 7959 initially healthy male members of locomotive crews (LCMs) of the Transbaikal Railway aged 18–66 years. The study assessed the formation and progression of degree I–II retinopathy (RP I–II) under the influence of AF. Multivariate analysis, 2×2 contingency tables, Kaplan– Meier models, and relative risk assessment were applied.

RESULTS. Chronological age showed statistical heterogeneity in mathematical models. Peculiarly, its significance varied across different models, revealing contradictory assessments. Thus, chronological years of life showed specific identification features of a trigger factor, allowing for their identification in the cell and further analysis of their effects.

CONCLUSION. The formation of RP varies significantly across different chronological ages, with each specific year of life acting as an independent trigger factor. When considering retinal aging processes within certain intervals of continuous AF, distinct differences may emerge. These findings show the need to identify specific (qualitative and quantitative ultrastructural and biochemical) markers of aging in the endothelium of the microcirculatory bed at different ages, which could help in restoring normal function of the cell and the affected organ as a whole — as long as the endothelial cell, as a target for therapeutic interventions, remains intact.

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