Good news for baby boomers

New research has highlighted generational differences in the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

A study published in JAMA Ophthalmology found that rates of AMD declined in different birth cohorts across the twentieth century.

The study compared rates of AMD in those born in the Greatest Generation (1901-1924), the Silent Generation (1925-1945), the Baby Boom (1946-1964) and Generation X (1965-1984).

After adjusting for age and sex, each generation was more than 60% less likely to develop AMD than the previous generation.

The researchers highlighted: “This pattern is consistent with reported declines in risks for cardiovascular disease and dementia, suggesting that aging Baby Boomers may experience better retinal health at older ages than previous generations did.”