An observational study in Age-related Macular Degeneration and Age-related Maculopathy, sponsored by University of California, Los Angeles. Active, not recruiting at 2 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 49 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2023-11-07.
Sponsored by University of California, Los Angeles · Observational
The original study (GARM I) has been conducted for more than 18 years at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). GARM II is a nationwide research study about age-related macular degeneration in the next generation of adults (49 to 65 years old). The purpose of this study is to identify the hereditary and exposure risk factors that lead to the development of ARM (Age related maculopathy).
Participants will communicate with the research staff through a protected and confidential website and use this website to complete a number of questionnaires during the course of the study (see below). For genetic analyses, the participants will mail in easily self-collected saliva samples in special containers. Eye photographs and eye health records are sent to the research center from local sources through the Internet. Individuals are not expected to come to UCLA in order to participate.
https://jseiclinres.jsei.ucla.edu/garm/
Participants will be expected to answer questionnaires or surveys about medical history, ocular history and visual symptoms, family history, smoking, dietary supplements and light exposure.
Age-related macular degeneration (ARM) is a major cause of vision loss in the elderly. It is thought that smoking and diet may contribute to the risk of developing the condition but it is clear that heredity plays a major role. Variations in two genes, CFH and HTRA1/ARMS2, have been found to strongly contribute to the risk of developing ARM, but there are additional genes that influence a person's chances of having this condition and how they will progress to vision loss. We are investigating these genetic variations that contribute to ARM so that we can eventually understand the causes of this complex condition. We study the genetic variations (SNPs) that are shared among ARM-affected individuals within families as well as compare the frequencies of genetic variations in ARM-affected individuals with those in unaffected persons who are matched in age, gender, and exposures. We are conducting studies with the DNA from our previous cohort of research participants as well as developing a prospective study of high-risk family members and their spouses to evaluate genetic risks and presymptomatic retinal changes. Our long-term goals are to develop new preventive therapies that can slow or halt the development of this disease and to be able to provide these treatments to those who are at greatest risk before they experience vision-threatening changes.
The goal of this study (GARM II) is to determine how the combination of genetic, dietary, health and exposure factors such as light, diet, and smoking contributes to one's risk of developing this condition. This is not a treatment study and does not involve any preventive therapies or direct treatments of ARM. We aim to find some insights for future preventive strategies through a group of people who are at a higher than normal risk for developing ARM (because of their family history) and their partners who represent the risk in the general population. Because ARM is a complex disease and is affected by many factors, we also want to know how other medical conditions may be associated or not with this eye condition.
Participants will communicate with the research staff through a protected, HIPAA-compliant and confidential website and use this website to complete a number of questionnaires during the course of the study. For genetic analyses, the participants will mail in easily self-collected saliva samples in special containers. Eye photographs and eye health records are sent to the research center from local sources through the Internet. Individuals are not expected to come to UCLA in order to participate.
https://jseiclinres.jsei.ucla.edu/garm/
1,490 studies on the registry are indexed under Macular Degeneration; 208 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 603 is above the median of 106 across 427 observational studies indexed under Macular Degeneration.
Browse Macular Degeneration studies →University of California, Los Angeles is the lead sponsor of 1,167 studies on the registry; 192 are open to participants now.
Of its 94 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 69 (73%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Nationwide study
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
A group of 1,500 participants (from 49 to 65 years old) who have at least one parent with age related maculopathy. These individuals with ARM-affected parents and relatives have a substantially higher risk (6-12 fold) of developing ARM than the general population. They will be followed prospectively with fundus photography every two years and questionnaires (distributed over six month intervals) to assess external risks for ARM development in order to investigate genotype-phenotype correlations of early onset clinical features of ARM.
Other: Observational-1
A group of 1,500 participants (from 49 to 65 years old) who are the spouses/partners of individuals with ARM affected parents. We will invite the partners or spouses to participate in order to compare their risk of developing ARM with those individuals with an increased risk of ARM based on a positive family history.
Other: Observational-1
Individuals who have experienced vision loss from ARM and have at least one brother or sister who also has experienced vision loss from ARM can participate in the study. They also need to have at least one adult child (from 49 to 65 years old) who wishes to participate in this study. We will allow for additional recruitment to compensate for additional family members (such as parents, aunts and uncles) who wish to participate as well as to address potential drop out and those who may be deemed ineligible based on review of their medical and/or eye records. As many as 4000 individuals in this group will be allowed to enroll.
Other: Observational-2
Multiple questionnaires detailing family history, medical history, visual symptoms, smoking, environmental and dietary exposures. Prospective photography of the retina to detect early ARM-related changes A saliva or blood sample for genetic testing.
A limited number of questionnaires and prior clinical documentation from eye care professionals of eye status with respect to ARM. No prospective retina photographs but ongoing follow-up for reported changes in ARM status. A saliva or blood sample for genetic testing.
The incidence and prevalence of retinal findings associated with early (and more advanced) age-related maculopathy in the study cohorts.
The primary outcome measure is the presence or absence of early retinal changes with age-related maculopathy in order to develop and test a model which combines genetic, environmental and dietary risk factors to predict which at risk individuals are most likely to develop signs of age-related maculopathy within the study period.
Time frame: 5 years
Ran from Oct 2011 to primary completion in Feb 2016, 52 months.
Of 107 non-industry observational studies under Macular Degeneration, half reached primary completion within 45 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 17 and three quarters within 97. This study's 52 months is above that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 166 studies reached it within 44 months; a quarter within 15 and three quarters within 77.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
This study is active, not recruiting, as verified in Nov 2023. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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