Since both of them are age-related conditions, it is logical that that key proteins involved in Alzheimer's disease are also implicated in glaucoma, and novel drugs being trialled for Alzheimer's disease, which target this protein, may be used to treat glaucoma. Using a new technology to detect apoptosing retinal cells researchers demonstrated that the protein beta-amyloid, which causes the so-called 'plaque' lesions in the brains of Alzheimer's patients, also leads to nerve cell death in the retina.

Although it does not indicate that patients with Alzheimer's disease will develop glaucoma or vice versa, the researchers have shown that drugs that work to prevent the build up of the beta-amyloid protein in Alzheimer brains can be used to treat glaucoma in animal models.

One such drug, Bapineuzumab, is already being used in clinical trials to treat Alzheimer's patients by pharmaceutical companies Elan in Dublin and Wyeth in the US. However, the UK researchers have shown that when combined with two other novel Alzheimer's treatments, the effects on glaucoma are even stronger.

"We are trying an approach that has never been tried before, not even to treat Alzheimer's disease," says Dr Cordeiro. "Our success in treating glaucoma in the lab by combining different Alzheimer's treatments represents a brand new treatment strategy."

In addition, this study also indicates that damaged retina may be used to screen Alzheimer's drugs that target beta-amyloid build up.

Source: Wellcome Trust