Exploring the role of inflammation in age-related macular degeneration: new insights and implications for future therapies.

The retina consists of one of the body's most delicate organs, being sensitive to various metabolic disturbances, vascular abnormalities and inflammatory processes. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) impacts millions of people worldwide and represents a notable cause of blindness. Chronic inflammation, implicated in several degenerative diseases including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, as well as atherosclerosis, has been linked to AMD. Both histopathological and genetic investigations have underscored the immune system's role in AMD progression. The objective of this literature review was to summarize the actual knowledge, identify research gaps and to serve as a basis for future studies regarding the correlations between inflammation and AMD. We conducted a thorough search of the primary databases (Web of Science, Cochrane Library, PubMed/MEDLINE), using keywords such as 'age-related macular degeneration', 'inflammation', 'neurodegeneration', and 'C-reactive protein'. We included systematic reviews and meta-analyses that offer the most relevant results in this research area. We also included the results from recent studies that have not yet been widely approached. Our strategy also consisted of looking for relevant articles in the reference list.