Glaucoma and Alzheimer’s Disease – Common Pathomechanisms and Therapeutic Measures
Journal Title: Postępy Nauk Medycznych - Year 2013, Vol 26, Issue 12
Abstract
Throughout the life of an organism, its cells are being lost and regenerated at the same time. With age, the ability to regenerate diminishes, and the catabolic processes are in the ascendant. Normal aging is also associated with the constant loss of the neurons, continuing till death. This phenomenon is natural and inevitable; however, as soon as the physiological threshold is exceeded, the pathology known as a neurodegenerative disease begins. The group embraces not only a number of neurological disorders, like Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease, but also glaucoma, an ophthalmic pathology. Contrary to the common knowledge, binding glaucoma to the increased intraocular pressure, the disease has numerous associations with the neurological diseases mentioned above. It has been shown, that glaucoma is significantly more common in the patients with Alzheimer’s disease, and, that the mechanisms leading to the cell death in the optic nerve are very similar to the ones observed in neurodegeneration of the brain. The article analyzes current literature in attempt to review and systematize the knowledge regarding the coexistence of glaucoma and Alzheimer’s disease. The results of the researches, the theories and hypotheses from the fields of the molecular biology, cytophysiology, pathophysiology, immunology and pharmacology were presented. Certainly, the knowledge on the pathomechanisms of neurodegeneration is crucial for finding the new therapeutic methods for glaucoma, as well as Alzheimer’s disease.
Authors and Affiliations
Iwona Grabska-Liberek, KKatarzyna Chwiejczak, Barbara Terelak-Borys, Jacek Kosmola
Keywords
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