Antidepressants May Protect Against AMD Development and Progression
A new study suggests that people taking certain antidepressants—SSRIs, SNRIs, or TCAs—may have a lower risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and progressing from the dry to the wet form of the disease. The analysis, based on millions of patients over nearly 20 years, found that antidepressant use was linked with protection against both types of AMD. Researchers believe the benefit may come from reduced inflammation, lower oxidative stress, and protective effects on nerve and retinal cells. Each class of antidepressant may help in different ways: SSRIs affect serotonin pathways that influence retinal health, SNRIs act on both serotonin and norepinephrine, and TCAs reduce inflammatory molecules tied to AMD damage. While the findings are promising, the authors caution that more research is needed to confirm how these medications provide protection. At this point, the results should not change how antidepressants are prescribed but may open new directions for AM...