A study of over 200,000 Korean adults into the relationship between exercise and the onset of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) has delivered an unexpected conclusion: exercise is associated with an increased risk of AMD.

The researchers found that exercising vigorously more than five days a week was associated with a 54 percent increased risk of macular degeneration in men. Interestingly, there was no such correlation in the female cohort.

This is the first time that such an association has been reported, and the researchers are keen to point out that the unexpected discovery should be approached with caution, stating that there is no “biological rationale” for the findings. There is no suggestion of a cause and effect relationship, and numerous other studies demonstrate that exercise is beneficial to health, especially as we get older.

Sources:

1. JAMA Ophthalmology:
   How are healthy lifestyle and frequent vigorous physical activity associated with the onset of neovascular age-related macular degeneration?.

2. New York Times:
   Vigorous Exercise Tied to Macular Degeneration in Men.