The leading cause of blindness in senior citizens — age-related macular degeneration — may have met its match. For the first time, there may be a therapy to at least slow the progress of the disease.

An injection of stem cells into the eye may soon slow or reverse the effects of early-stage age-related macular degeneration, according to new research from scientists at Cedars-Sinai.

Testing is being done on rat-models and showing great progress. Currently, there is no treatment that slows the progression of the disease, which is the leading cause of vision loss in people over 65.

Age-related macular degeneration affects upward of 15 million Americans. It occurs when the small central portion of the retina, known as the macula, deteriorates. The retina is the light-sensing nerve tissue at the back of the eye. Macular degeneration may also be caused by environmental factors, aging and a genetic predisposition.

If you or a loved one is suffering from macular degeneration, come out the support group meeting at 10 a.m. on Wednesday. This is open to the public and everyone is welcome.

You may not be old now, but if you’re lucky, one day you will be. We look forward to seeing you at our many programs at the Senior Center. Don’t forget our coffee shop where every day you can have homemade soup for $1 and a sandwich for 50 cents. Tuesday we are having scalloped potatoes and Ham for only $2. You are always welcome at the center.

Upcoming Events

Monday: Blood pressure checks, 9 a.m.; Naps, 9:30 a.m.; Cards (Pinochle, Duplicate Bridge), 12:30 p.m.; Exercise with Evie’s Friends, 1 p.m.

Tuesday: Silver Sneakers, 8:30 a.m.; Hormel Breakfast, 9 a.m.; Exercise with Evies Friends, 9 a.m.; Scalloped potatoes and ham, 11:30 a.m.; Cards (Pinochle, Duplicate Bridge), 12:30 p.m.; Zumba/ZumbaToning 5:45 p.m.; Zumba/ZumbaToning, 7 p.m.

Wednesday: Wood Carvers, 8:30 a.m.; Macular Degeneration Support, 10:30 a.m.; Weight Watchers, 12:15 p.m.; cards (Duplicate Bridge, Pinochle, Cribbage), 12:30 p.m.; Stitching Bees, 1 p.m.;

Open chess 1 p.m.; Weight Watchers, 5:30 p.m.

Thursday: Silver Sneakers, 8:30 a.m.; Exercise with Evies Friends, 9 a.m.; cards (Pinochle), 12:30 p.m.; Bingo, 1 p.m.; open chess, 1 p.m.;

Hearing Aid Clinic 3:15 p.m.; Zumba/ZumbaToning, 5:45 p.m.; Zumba/ZumbaToning, 7 p.m.

Friday: Mother’s Day lunch, noon; (Duplicate Bridge, Pinochle, Cribbage), 12:30 p.m.; Ping Pong, 3 p.m.

Weekly Card Results

Monday Bridge

April 27, two tables

1st Dave Solomonson, 2nd Mary Johnsen, 3rd Lois Johnson, 4th Jaynard Johnson, 5th Arnie Lang

Tuesday Duplicate Bridge

April 28, seven tables

1st Harriet Oldenburg, 1st Teresa Baldus; 2nd Jim Fisher, 2nd Larry Crowe;

3rd Gene Muchow, 3rd Ron Peters; 4th Bud Higgins, 4th Arnie Lang, 4th Judy Bungum, 4th Dave Solomonson

Tuesday 500

April 28, three tables

1st Hilton Henschen, 2nd Quentin Fiala, 3rd Barb Dickman

Pinochle

No Results

Friday Bridge

May 1, two tables

1st Carolyne Higgins, 2nd Arnie Lang, 3rd Lois Johnson, 4th Russ Vaale, 5th Bob Kaushaar

Wednesday Cribbage

April 27, two tables

1st Val Lavallie, 2nd John Karnes, 3rd Loretta Nelson

Friday 500

May 1, four tables

1st Wayne Freitag

2nd Dick Davies

3rd Mary Freitag

4th Jerry Downing

Friday Cribbage

No Results