Systemic administration of the di-apocarotenoid norbixin (BIO201) is neuroprotective, preserves photoreceptor function and inhibits A2E and lipofuscin accumulation in animal models of age-related macular degeneration and Stargardt disease.

Atrophic A\age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and Stargardt disease (STGD) are major blinding diseases affecting millions of patients worldwide, but no treatment is available. In dry AMD and STGD oxidative stress and subretinal accumulation of -retinylidene--retinylethanolamine (A2E), a toxic by-product of the visual cycle, causes retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and photoreceptor degeneration leading to visual impairment. Acute and chronic retinal degeneration following blue light damage (BLD) in BALB/c mice and aging of mice, respectively, reproduce features of AMD and STGD.

Common CX3CR1 alleles are associated with a reduced risk of headaches.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the chemokine receptor CX3CR1 in headaches and migraine.

Methods: Distribution of 2 polymorphisms of the chemokine receptor CX3CR1 (V249I and T280M) was determined in a population-based sample of 1179 elderly individuals.

Results: Heterozygotes for both CX3CR1 polymorphisms had a reduced risk of recurrent headaches, with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.