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Neuroscience For Kids

Exercise For Better Eyesight
November 21, 2006

Most people know that regular exercise is good for their health. Did you know that an active lifestyle can also reduce your risk of an eye disease? In fact, researchers at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health found that regular exercise can reduce the risk of an eye disease called age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

The scientists studied 3,874 people over a 15-year period. They asked each person about their physical activity such as how much they walked and how many stairs they climbed each week. An active lifestyle was found to reduce the risk of AMD by 70%; walking more reduced the risk of AMD by 30%.

The researchers stress that exercise may not be the only factor that was responsible for the reduced risk of AMD. Also, because the amount of exercise was measured using a simple questionnaire, it is not known how long each person participated in a regular exercise program. Nevertheless, this study shows that something as simple as regular exercise may protect eyesight.

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