Associations of Alzheimer's disease with macular degeneration.
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.
Centre of Memory Disturbances, Section of Neurology, University Hospital of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Leonardo
L
Biscetti
Centre of Memory Disturbances, Section of Neurology, University Hospital of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Elisa
E
Luchetti
Section of Ophtalmology, University Hospital of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Andrea
A
Vergaro
Section of Ophtalmology, University Hospital of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Paola
P
Menduno
Section of Ophtalmology, University Hospital of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Carlo
C
Cagini
Dipartimento di Medicina, Sezione di Neurologia, Universita degli Studi di Perugia, Sant'Andrea delle Fratte, 06132 Perugia, Italy, lucilla.parnetti@unipg.it.
Lucilla
L
Parnetti
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D015995:Prevalence; D015593:Retinal Drusen / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012307:Risk Factors
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D000975:Antioxidants