A recent study from Taichung Veterans General Hospital suggests that people with a specific type of glaucoma, known as normal-tension glaucoma, have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers recommend that people with this eye condition be screened for Alzheimer’s.
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain. In most cases, glaucoma is caused by high pressure inside the eye. However, normal-tension glaucoma is different—it causes optic nerve damage even when eye pressure is normal.
While past research has explored links between glaucoma and Alzheimer’s, results have been mixed. Few studies have focused specifically on normal-tension glaucoma, which makes this new research particularly important.
The researchers analyzed data from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database, covering a 12-year period. They compared 15,317 people with normal-tension glaucoma to 61,268 people of the same age and gender who did not have glaucoma.
The results showed that people with normal-tension glaucoma were 52% more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. The risk was even higher for older individuals, women, and those with a history of stroke.
The study also found that glaucoma eye drops, commonly used to manage the disease, had no effect on Alzheimer’s risk. They did not protect against the disease nor increase the likelihood of developing it.
While not everyone with glaucoma will develop Alzheimer’s, the connection between these conditions is significant. Both diseases involve the gradual loss of nerve cells, a process called neurodegeneration. In glaucoma, this affects the retinal ganglion cells in the optic nerve, leading to vision loss. In Alzheimer’s, it affects brain cells responsible for memory and thinking.
Scientists hope that by studying the similarities and differences between these diseases, they can develop new treatments for both conditions. Understanding how neurodegeneration works in the eye may also provide clues about how to prevent or slow down Alzheimer’s disease.
The study was led by Yu-Yen Chen and presented at the 126th annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
If you care about Alzheimer’s, please read studies about Vitamin D deficiency linked to Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia, and Oral cannabis extract may help reduce Alzheimer’s symptoms.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about Vitamin B9 deficiency linked to higher dementia risk, and results showing flavonoid-rich foods could improve survival in Parkinson’s disease.
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