Associations of Alzheimer rsquo s disease with macular degeneration

Abstract

There is growing evidence of epidemiological, genetic, molecular and clinical links between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Major interest in the relationship between AD and AMD has derived from the evidence that beta-amyloid, the main component of senile plaques, the hallmark of AD, is also an important component of drusen, the hallmark of AMD. This finding has a great potential in the present era of anti-amyloid agents for the treatment of AD. The connection between AD and AMD is also supported by the evidence that the two diseases share other pathophysiological factors, such as oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. Accordingly, a few clinical trials have evaluated the efficacy of antioxidants on visual and cognitive performance in patients presenting both disorders. In this review, we summarize the pathophysiological and clinical evidence of the relationship between these two age-related disorders. Considering the increasing prevalence of both conditions along with the aging of the population, further investigations of this important issue are highly needed.

Increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease among patients with age-related macular degeneration: A nationwide population-based study

“…Aging is the primary risk factor for both AD and AMD [ 38 ]. Oxidative stress is considered to be an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants, which is the fundamental mechanism contributing to the aging process [ 39 ].…”

Elovanoids counteract oligomeric β-amyloid-induced gene expression and protect photoreceptors

“…However, there is a correlation between AD and eye diseases other than AMD that includes glaucoma and susceptibility to diabetic retinopathy (30). Evolving key signaling disease mechanisms, include CFH, APOE (31–33), and the matrix metalloproteinase pathway (34). Our data show that subretinal OAβ injection in mice triggers RPE cell damage and PRC loss after 7 d. To test the soundness of the Aβ deleterious effects on the RPE, we used human RPE cells in primary cultures and showed that it sets in motion similar damage as in the in vivo rodent.…”

Neurofilament light chain in the vitreous humor of the eye

“…The eye is a window to the brain, and they both share a common embryological origin and vasculature [11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. Eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy have been associated with AD in epidemiological studies, indicating that eye disease and AD possibly share common risk factors and pathological mechanisms at the molecular level [18][19][20][21][22]. The interconnections between the eye and the brain suggest that elucidating the common features of neurodegenerative processes can lead to a better understanding of both neurological and eye diseases [23].…”