AMD and Alzheimer's Disease

A recent literature review examining the common characteristics between Alzheimer's disease and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) indicates that the 2 diseases may share a common pathogenic mechanism and suggests that therapeutic approaches applied to patients with Alzheimer's may offer some benefit to those with AMD.  The review focused on amyloid beta, an amino acid peptide found in both senile plaques of Alzheimer's patients and the drusen of patients with AMD.  Specifically, the review looked at the role the peptide plays as a regulator in the progression from drusen to AMD. 

"Age is a common risk factor for Alzheimer's disease and age related macular degeneration," wrote study author Ohno-Matsui from Tokeyo Medical and Dental University, Japan (Prog Retin Eye Res 2011).  Studies indicate the "long-term course of developing Alzheimer's disease pathology appears quite similar to the long term and progressive development of AMD.  These data support the idea that the retina is a part of the brain, and pathological ageing changes occur in the brain and the retina similarly."

Ohno-Matsui suggested that similar therapies, including anti-amyloid therapies, including anti-amyloid therapies, might be successfully used to treat both groups of patients.  Amyloid beta-targeting drugs originally developed to treat Alzheimer's are expected to be tested in patients with AMD, and pharmaceutical companies are currently developing genetically based and complement-targeted therapies with the goal of reducing complement-related AMD disease processes.  These include therapies targeting C3-convertase, long implicated in the Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis. 

"Although AMD should be considered as a distinct type of 'amyloid disease,' amyloid beta targeting therapies that are being tested in Alzheimer's patients can be applied to AMD," Phno-Matsui said.  "Te reverse should also be considered i.e., therapies tested for AMD should also be tested on Alzheimer's disease patients."