Neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease and glaucoma: overlaps and missing links.
Sen Sagnik, Saxena Rohit, Tripathi Manjari, Vibha Deepti, Dhiman Rebika
AI Summary
This review found significant overlaps in neurodegeneration, amyloid/tau deposition, and affected pathways between Alzheimer's and glaucoma, suggesting a common pathogenesis and clinical relevance for shared research.
Abstract
The eye is said to be the window into the brain. Alzheimer's disease (AD) and glaucoma both being diseases of the elderly, have several epidemiological and histological overlaps in pathogenesis. Both these diseases are neurodegenerative conditions. Over the years, a consensus has developed that both may be two ends of a singular spectrum of diseases. Epidemiological studies have shown that more Alzheimer's patients may be suffering from glaucoma than general healthy population. Retinal ganglion cell damage is a characteristic of both diseases, along with discovery of amyloid-β and tau protein deposition in the retina and aqueous humor of eye. The latter two proteins are known to be pathognomonic of AD. Other pathways such as the insulin receptor pathway also seem to be affected in both diseases similarly. In spite of these overlaps, there are few missing links which still need more evidence, namely, intraocular pressure mechanisms, cerebrospinal fluid pressure and trans-lamina cribrosa pressure gradients, vascular autoregulation factors, etc. Several factors point towards a common pathogenesis at some level for both diseases and prospective studies are necessary to study the natural course of both diseases.
MeSH Terms
Shields Classification
Key Concepts6
Alzheimer's disease (AD) and glaucoma are both neurodegenerative conditions affecting the elderly, with several epidemiological and histological overlaps in pathogenesis.
Epidemiological studies suggest that a higher proportion of Alzheimer's patients may suffer from glaucoma compared to the general healthy population.
Retinal ganglion cell damage, amyloid-β deposition, and tau protein deposition in the retina and aqueous humor are common characteristics observed in both Alzheimer's disease and glaucoma.
Amyloid-β and tau proteins are known to be pathognomonic of Alzheimer's disease, and their discovery in the retina and aqueous humor of eyes with glaucoma suggests shared pathogenic pathways.
The insulin receptor pathway appears to be similarly affected in both Alzheimer's disease and glaucoma, indicating another shared pathogenic mechanism.
Missing links requiring further evidence in the shared pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease and glaucoma include intraocular pressure mechanisms, cerebrospinal fluid pressure and trans-lamina cribrosa pressure gradients, and vascular autoregulation factors.
Related Articles5
Metabolic syndrome and the aging retina.
ReviewIncreased level of platelet P-selectin in nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy.
Case-Control StudyRetinal Ganglion Cell Dysfunction in Regular Cannabis Users: Is the Evidence Strong Enough to Consider an Association?
ReviewThe enigma of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy: an update for the comprehensive ophthalmologist.
ReviewSystemic parameters associated with cerebrospinal fluid pressure.
ReviewIs this article assigned to the wrong chapter(s)? Let us know.