And cataracts afflict roughly one-third of Americans between the ages of 65 and 74. Since America's aging population is growing substantially each year, baby boomers everywhere could benefit from research under way by UNH nutrition and food scientist Joanne Curran Celentano . Though eyesight often changes with maturity, Celentano's research goal is to determine whether eating certain fruits and vegetables can extend strong vision into old age. The part of the eye that makes it possible to read, recognize someone's face and differentiate among colors is called the macular region, which is located in the retina. This is the place where AMD affects vision and where macular pigment is deposited.
Macular pigment is composed of the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin.
Lutein is plentiful in green leafy vegetables, such as collards, kale, spinach and broccoli, while zeaxanthin is prevalent in yellow and orange fruits and vegetables. We are looking at dietary and lifestyle factors that enhance pigment deposition. Since the late '80s, Celentano has measured the carotenoid levels in the blood and diet of many healthy volunteers. She works in collaboration with UNH professor of psychology Kenneth Fuld, a vision scientist who measures the macular pigment of the research participants. While diet is important, it is obviously not the only factor affecting long-term vision health.