New York: A team of US researchers including an Indian-origin scientist has identified three more genes that contribute to the most common type of glaucoma. The findings increase the total number of such genes to 15.
"Just in time for Glaucoma Awareness Month, this unprecedented analysis provides the most comprehensive genetic profile of glaucoma to date," said Paul A Sieving, director of the National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the US National Institutes of Health.
These findings open avenues for the pursuit of new strategies to screen for, prevent and treat glaucoma.
Glaucoma is a group of conditions that damage the optic nerve, the bundle of nerve fibers connecting the eye to the brain.
For the new study, the researchers compared the DNA of 3,853 people of European ancestry with primary open-angle glaucoma to a similar group of 33,480 people without it.
Additional analyses also found associations between glaucoma and these gene variants.
Scientists had already identified an association between FOXC1 and glaucoma, but only in rare cases of severe early-onset glaucoma.
"Just in time for Glaucoma Awareness Month, this unprecedented analysis provides the most comprehensive genetic profile of glaucoma to date," said Paul A Sieving, director of the National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the US National Institutes of Health.
These findings open avenues for the pursuit of new strategies to screen for, prevent and treat glaucoma.
Glaucoma is a group of conditions that damage the optic nerve, the bundle of nerve fibers connecting the eye to the brain.
Advertisement
For the new study, the researchers compared the DNA of 3,853 people of European ancestry with primary open-angle glaucoma to a similar group of 33,480 people without it.
Advertisement
Additional analyses also found associations between glaucoma and these gene variants.
Advertisement
Scientists had already identified an association between FOXC1 and glaucoma, but only in rare cases of severe early-onset glaucoma.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Pompeii DNA Study Reveals Surprising Ancestry and Uncovers New Insights on Family and Gender Assumptions UK-Based DNA Company With Russian Link Vanishes With Highly-Sensitive Data Vietnamese Father Discovers Daughter Was Swapped At Birth Through DNA Test Why Donald Trump's Cabinet Choices Are Giving Pakistan Sleepless Nights "Go Falcon. Go GSAT-20": SpaceX Successfully Launches Indian Satellite Dhaka, Islamabad Inch Closer With Historic Sea Link. How It Impacts India PM Modi Meets UK's Keir Starmer at G20, Discusses Tech, Energy, Security Ukraine Marks 1,000 Days Of Russian Invasion, Eyes End To War Next Year Ukraine Calls Biden's Decision To Supply Long-Range Missiles "Game Changer" Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.