Scientists from Sapienza University in Italy found that clinical biomarkers of glaucoma and Alzheimer’s disease are similar. Most likely, both of these diseases can be triggered by the accumulation of beta-amyloid protein (Aβ) in tissues. In this respect reports NewsMedical.
Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disease that usually occurs after the age of 50 and is characterized by progressive decline in intelligence, memory impairment and personality changes. One of the causes of the disease is thought to be the accumulation in brain tissue of a fragment of the beta-amyloid protein. Such deposits are called plaque.
The mechanisms underlying the development of glaucoma and Alzheimer’s disease are similar. Glaucoma is stated to affect areas of the brain other than areas associated with central vision (such as the temporal lobe). They match brain regions affected in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
Glaucoma is thought to start in the brain but manifests itself as an eye disease. In addition, scientists have previously found that people with normal tension glaucoma (a type of disease in which intraocular pressure remains within normal limits) are 52% more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease.
Researchers suggest that the close link between the two diseases is due to the ability of retinal ganglion cells to secrete beta-amyloid protein. It can accumulate as people age and cause eye diseases to develop.
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