Stargardt Disease — Research Summary
Printed from RareWays (rareways.com.au) on 11 September 2026
For general awareness only. Not medical advice. Discuss all care options with your healthcare team.
5 Most Recent Research Articles
- 1.
Epidemiology of macular dystrophy in Japan (2011-2020): a nationwide population-based study.
Ikeda Hanako Ohashi et al. — Japanese journal of ophthalmology (3 September 2026)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42690510/
- 2.
Deuterated Vitamin A for Stargardt Disease in TEASE-1 Trial.
Huckfeldt Rachel M et al. — JAMA ophthalmology (3 September 2026)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42690644/
- 3.
Safety and Effects of Gildeuretinol Acetate on Retinal Atrophic Lesions in Stargardt Disease: The TEASE-1 Randomized Clinical Trial.
Kay Christine N et al. — JAMA ophthalmology (3 September 2026)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42690655/
- 4.
In Silico Prioritization of Variants of Uncertain Significance in ABCA4 Reveals Conserved Functional Motifs.
Jones Jazzlyn S et al. — Research square (25 August 2026)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42687888/
- 5.
Loss of ABCA4 from photoreceptor discs is associated with glial transcriptomic changes in retinal organoids.
Valenzano Rossella et al. — Stem cells (Dayton, Ohio) (22 August 2026)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42581602/
Clinical Trials — Currently Recruiting (Australia)
Ask your doctor whether you or your child may be eligible for any of these trials.
- 1.
Restoration of Central Vision With PRIMA in Patients With Photoreceptor Degeneration
Recruiting — Na — Science Corporation
https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07266584
Source: RareWays research directory. Data from PubMed, Europe PMC, OpenAlex, ClinicalTrials.gov.
Always verify information with your healthcare team before making any decisions about your care.
Stargardt Disease
Stargardt disease is the most common inherited macular dystrophy, usually caused by changes in the ABCA4 gene. It damages the central part of the retina, so people gradually lose sharp central vision, often from childhood or early adulthood, while side vision is usually kept. Several treatments aimed at slowing vision loss are being tested in clinical trials.
Most Recent Research
PURPOSE: To describe the characteristics and prevalence of macular dystrophy using a comprehensive national claims database in Japan. STUDY DESIGN: Population-based retrospective study using a nationwide claims database. METHODS: Approximately 126 million individuals covered by Japan's universal health coverage system were included. Health insurance claims from 2011 to 2020 stored in the National Database of Health Insurance Claims (NDB) of Japan were analyzed. Patients with macular dystrophy, including best vitelliform macular dystrophy (BVMD), Stargardt disease (STGD), cone/cone-rod dystrophy, or central areolar choroidal dystrophy (CACD), were identified using diagnostic codes recorded in the database. The population-based prevalence of diagnosed macular dystrophy was calculated, and age-standardized rates were derived using the WHO standard world population. RESULTS: Between 2011 and 2020, 1,268 patients with BVMD, 460 with STGD, 5758 with cone/cone-rod dystrophy, and 280 with CACD were identified in the NDB. As of October 1, 2020, the corresponding prevalence rates were 10.05, 3.65, 45.65, and 2.35 per 1,000,000 persons, respectively. CONCLUSION: This nationwide study provides updated epidemiological estimates of macular dystrophy in Japan. These findings may inform clinical management, healthcare planning, and future research on macular dystrophy.
Common Questions
What is Stargardt Disease?
Stargardt disease is the most common inherited macular dystrophy, usually caused by changes in the ABCA4 gene. It damages the central part of the retina, so people gradually lose sharp central vision, often from childhood or early adulthood, while side vision is usually kept. Several treatments aimed at slowing vision loss are being tested in clinical trials.
How many clinical trials are available for Stargardt Disease?
RareWays currently indexes 60 clinical trials for Stargardt Disease, of which 22 are actively recruiting. Trial availability changes as new studies are registered — check the trials tab for current status.
Where does the research data for Stargardt Disease come from?
RareWays aggregates research from PubMed, Europe PMC, OpenAlex, and ClinicalTrials.gov. Data is updated regularly by Rocky, RareWays' automated research engine. All articles and trials link directly to their original sources.
Get research updates
Monthly email when new findings are published for Stargardt Disease.
No spam. Unsubscribe any time. Not medical advice.
This information is for general awareness only.
For guidance specific to your situation, please speak with your healthcare team.