Age-related macular degeneration is the primary cause of blindness in older Americans

US macular degeneration burden is based on statistical modeling and Medicare claims

Prevalence estimates for age-related macular degeneration in the US are usually based on the Vision and Eye Health Surveillance System. Disease numbers are generated using Bayesian meta-regression (a type of statistical modeling), which pulls together information from multiple sources, including Medicare claims.

The macula is a small area in the center of the retina

This part of the eye—roughly the bullseye of the back of the eye—is responsible for processing the central vision of the eye. Degradation of the macula, formally called macular degeneration, leads to symptoms including blurred vision, the need for brighter lighting, and difficulty recognizing faces. The condition doesn't affect peripheral vision, but if you lose central vision, you can still be considered blind.

Wet macular degeneration affects 10%-15% of those with macular degeneration

This form of molecular degeneration refers to when excess blood vessels form in the back of the eye and damage the macula. If someone with this condition looks at straight lines, they will typically appear wavy or crooked.

Caucasians are at the greatest risk of developing macular degeneration

A 2016 analysis across ethnic groups found, among other things, that white participants had the highest incidence of the disease, followed by Chinese, Hispanic, and Black participants. This study did not answer why that may be the case.

LIghter-colored eyes have heightened risks for macular degeneration

People with blue eyes appear to be at elevated risk of developing the disorder, perhaps because more light can penetrate their eyes. But the most significant modifiable factor heightening the risk for macular degeneration is smoking.

World health experts expect more than 240 million global cases of AMD in 2030

The World Health Organization estimated in 2019 that by 2020 there would be roughly 195.6 million cases of age-related macular degeneration and projected that the number would continue to grow. (Some users may experience a paywall.)

Drusen are bumps under the retina that distort the vision of most macular degeneration patients

These yellow deposits are made up of proteins and lipids and come in a variety of sizes. They're common in people aged 50 and older, but amassing many of them is often a symptom of age-related macular degeneration—the most prevalent type of macular degeneration.

Photodynamic therapy is one current treatment for age-related macular degeneration

This laser-based treatment is used on advanced "wet" age-related macular degeneration patients, but it's now used less often than in the past because there are newer injection-based drugs to decrease abnormal blood vessel growth.

See the global blindness burden by cause and continent

These charts show the estimated number of people worldwide with blindness due to cataract, glaucoma, refractive disorders, age-related macular degeneration, malaria, river blindness, trachoma, and other causes.

There are more than 1,400 listed clinical trials for macular degeneration

The US database of clinical trials listed more than 1,400 macular degeneration trials in early 2026. That doesn't mean every trial is recruiting, but it does indicate there is significant interest in this medical condition.

Vitamins can slow macular degeneration

Research published in 2022 affirmed that vitamin formulations containing vitamins C and E, copper, zinc, lutein, and zeaxanthin—but no beta carotene—can enhance eye health and slow the progression of macular degeneration.

Alzheimer's disease is the leading cause of dementia and risks rise after age 65

Read this primer about Alzheimer's disease and learn what factors increase the risk of this form of dementia, including genetics, being a woman, and health conditions, including high blood pressure.

Aging is a complex biological process affecting our cells, tissues, and organs

With each passing decade, researchers uncover additional causes and effects of this seemingly unstoppable process. This visually stimulating video dives into our current understanding of aging, complete with the biological hallmarks researchers use to study aging at the cellular level (biological age).

Mapping hearing loss in the US

Nearly 10% of Americans suffer from some degree of hearing loss, measured as the inability to hear sounds lower than 25 decibels. The incidence of hearing loss increases with age and is typically higher among men. Recent analysis produced a puzzling observation researchers can't quite explain: There's a larger incidence of hearing loss among rural populations than in urban centers. Explore the data with this map and explainer.

Usher Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder, causes progressive hearing and vision loss

People with one of the subtypes of this condition have a genetic mutation that starves cells in the inner ear and the retina of proteins required for detecting sound and light. Gene therapy in animals has seemed like a promising treatment for the condition.

Black Americans with diabetes have amputation rates three times higher than average

Annually, 130,000 US diabetics undergo amputations due to complications from diabetes, with many patients located in low-income and uninsured neighborhoods. More than half of US diabetics who lose lower limbs are not subject to pre-surgery angiograms, imaging that shows blood flow blockages to determine if (and where) amputation is necessary.

Changes in vision or eye pain can be early MS symptoms

This occurs due to myelin degradation around the optic nerve, impairing its ability to transmit visual information to the brain. Individuals may especially experience eye symptoms after exercising or taking a hot shower because boosted body temperatures slow down nerve function in nerves already damaged by MS.

The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, or age-related cartilage loss

The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis. It's caused by cartilage loss within our joints as we age. This article is formatted specifically for patients. It provides easily digestible information on our most evidence-based understanding of osteoarthritis causes, symptoms, and treatments.

Visualizing obesity rates across the US

Nearly 70% of adults in the US are either overweight or obese, rates that have tripled over the last 60 years. Severe cases have risen tenfold during this period. Factors like location, income level, and demographics contribute to various obesity levels across the US. Visualize the statistics with this article and chart series.

America's top causes of death are heart disease, cancer, accidents, and stroke

Heart disease killed more than 680,000 people in 2023 and cancer killed around 613,000 people that year. Both causes of death are far above the next leading cause of death—accidents, which numbered around 223,000. Provisional data for 2024 indicates the leading causes of death remained the same.

1 in 15 adults over age 40 experience phantom odors

This phenomenon was measured in a 2018 study that examined the prevalence and risk factors for phantom odor perception. Older adults were less likely to experience these phantom odors as they age, just as their overall sense of smell declines. Women are more likely than men to perceive phantom odors.

Alzheimer's can lead to brain shrinkage, with an average of around 2% of volume reduction per year

More than 20 mosquito-borne and tick-borne diseases are found in the US

Children, older adults, and people with compromised immune systems are at particular risk of poorer health outcomes from these diseases. But dog owners and outdoor enthusiasts are among those at particular risk of contracting these illnesses, which include Lyme disease, Zika, and the condition Alpha-gal Syndrome.

Adults may lose roughly 3% of their muscle mass each decade after 30

That muscle loss, formally referred to as sarcopenia [saar-ko-pee-nee-uh], averages 3% to 5%, depending on physical activity. These losses can progress with age, but resistance training helps combat some of this natural degradation.

Amazon is the most-loved brand among baby boomers

Macy's ranked at number five for the oldest generation alive today, whereas Gen Xers have Apple in their number one slot. This data visualization outlines the most-loved brands among baby boomers.

Most Americans support age limits for justices, elected officials

As members of Congress and Supreme Court justices continue to serve at an average age far older than in the past, polls show a majority of Americans favor setting an age limit for these roles. Roughly 79% support caps for federal elected officials, and 74% favor such limits for Supreme Court justices. A constitutional amendment would be required.

US consumers collectively owe more than $1T to credit card companies—almost as much as they owe in auto loans.

Tattoos remain visible on your skin thanks to immune cells called macrophages

About 2,000 US babies are born annually without some portion of their limbs, potentially leading to a lifetime of pricey prosthetics.

11 people died from firework injuries in the US in 2024.

The hormonal disorder PCOS was renamed PMOS in 2026, a move designed to improve care and research by shifting the focus to the hormonal causes of this condition that affects 1 in 8 women.

Discover the catastrophic consequences of a failure of the US electrical grid—something that is more likely than many Americans think.

Indefinite cloning of some endangered species may not sustain their longevity because cloning success rates decrease as genetic mutations accumulate.

Animal phobias are likely the most common type of phobias, followed by an extreme fear of heights.

Studies suggest when you sleep is as important as how much you get, and syncing with your circadian rhythms may lead to less fatigue and improved long-term health outcomes

Marburg virus, related to Ebola, is also extremely deadly, and has no available vaccine.

20,000 letters to the advice columnist 'Dear Abby' provide insight into prevailing sex, religion, and LGBTQ fears, anxieties, and concerns from the 1950s onward.

At the beginning of the 20th century, a group of young men ate standard American food—replete with food additives like borax and formaldehyde—as part of government research to better understand food safety.

When you complete a CAPTCHA on a website to prove you are human, you may be unknowingly training algorithms for self-driving cars, whose systems require training data to help identify crosswalks, bicycles, and other outdoor objects.

Between 10 million and 50 million people in the US develop rashes from poison ivy, poison sumac, and poison oak each year.

Louisiana's 'Cancer Alley' is infamous for having some of the highest industrial pollution, toxic air emissions, and cancer risks in the US.

As of 2025, the most cited papers in science include a review of graphene, methods to improve image recognition, streamlining electron density calculations, and optimizing protein studies.

The Nasdaq's 'Magnificent 7' companies are responsible for roughly 40% of the Nasdaq 100 index's gains, while the remaining 93 companies account for the other 60%.

In 1939, baseball star Lou Gehrig delivered his inspirational 'Luckiest Man' speech after retiring due to the health condition that now bears his name.

The US Constitution is widely regarded as the longest-standing written national constitution still in force—see how it has influenced rights worldwide.

Visualize the path of every solar eclipse from 1900 to 2099 and see what each looks like when observed from different locations on Earth.

One of the most famous portraits ever taken is 'Afghan Girl' (1984) by Steve McCurry, yet the subject Sharbat Gula went much of her life without being identified or benefitting from the image's success.

Dorothy's famous entrance into Oz in 'The Wizard of Oz' relied on analog tricks, including a body double and sepia-toned paint, as much as it did on technology

Gerrymandering works through two techniques: cracking opposing voters across districts to dilute their power, and packing them into a few to waste their votes in lopsided majorities.

See how Budweiser's famous Clydesdales spend their days at Warm Springs Ranch, where roughly 70 to 80 of the beer brand's giant horses can be found at any given time.