Researchers from the University of Southampton have identified a group of proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease they believe may be a possible cause of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
For the study, investigators reportedly used both cell cultures and mouse models to analyze how quickly Amyloid beta proteins -- considered a likely cause of Alzheimer's disease -- entered the retina and what type of damage they caused. According to researchers, the beta proteins entered retinal cells within 24 hours of exposure and began to break the cell's scaffold structure, acting much quicker than expected.
Next, researchers plan to look at how the beta proteins get into the retinal cells and study more closely how damage occurs, with the aim of establishing preventative measures or treatment options.
The study was recently published in the journal Experimental Eye Research.
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Source: University of Southampton