Study: Eye Disease May Increase Alzheimer's Risk

People with a common eye disease that leads to vision loss may have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, according to a study presented May 8 at the annual meetings of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.

Researchers at the University of California-Santa Barbara found that the eye disease, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and Alzheimer's disease appear to begin with the development of inflammation and the appearance of plaque.

AMD, a disease involving the retina that can result in blindness, affects 5 to 10 percent of those over age 60.

The protein amyloid beta is thought to stimulate the inflammation process and is suspected of killing brain cells and being the culprit in the Alzheimer's disease process.

Researchers found that the same toxic protein builds up in deposits known as drusen located adjacent to the photoreceptor cell layers in the retina. Drusen is a type of plaque that is regarded as the hallmark clinical sign of early AMD.

Researcher Don Anderson said it is not yet clear whether the elevated risk of Alzheimer's in patients with the eye disease is attributable to common pathogenic factors or to common risk factors. including smoking and atherosclerosis.

Other sources: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology