Glaucoma could be early warning for Alzheimer's

"A major link between Alzheimer's and glaucoma has been discovered by British scientists that could lead to the eye disease being regarded as an early warning for dementia.

A major link between Alzheimer's and glaucoma has been discovered by British scientists
Glaucoma affects 600,000 people in Britain

Scientists at University College London (UCL) found a 'clear link between what causes Alzheimer's and one of the basic mechanisms behind glaucoma', it is revealed today.

The research could speed up the development of new treatments for Alzheimer's, and revolutionise the treatment of glaucoma, the most common cause of blindness.

If glaucoma is confirmed as a major risk factor for Alzheimer's then the early warning signs it gives could help ensure that patients have more opportunities to delay the onset of dementia using drugs.

The researchers discovered that the same 'plaque' proteins are a key process in the development of both diseases. Clumps - or plaques - of beta-amyloid proteins, which kill brain cells in Alzheimer's patients, also kill optic nerve cells in the eyes of glaucoma sufferers, the study found."