This was consistent with previous reports showing that elderly individuals exhibited lower SIRT3 protein levels in skeletal muscle than young subjects.12 SIRT3 deficiency decreases mitochondrial function with age, which is related to tumor-permissive phenotype.21 Other age-related diseases such as diabetes and cardiac diseases may also be related to the SIRT3 function.22–24 Based on these results, we hypothesized that reduced SIRT3 expression might cause structural and functional changes in the aged retina. This evidence concerns the gene SIRT3 and diabetes mellitus.