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A new study led by Australian researchers on the retinas of glaucoma patients has identified 122 common molecular markers unique to both diseases. While the link between Alzheimer’s and glaucoma is not new, this discovery provides the most conclusive evidence to date.
This discovery will now pave the way for further studies to test these markers in the blood of patients who are suffering from either Alzheimer’s or glaucoma, even in the early stages, providing hope for more affordable and non-invasive tests for the two debilitating conditions.
“Anything we can do which improves the detection of Alzheimer's disease and glaucoma at an earlier stage using unbiased molecular information will have a positive impact on the health outcomes of patients in future” says co-author Dr Vivek Gupta.
AI is set to revolutionise the way doctors and patients interact with ophthalmic healthcare, with several published diagnostic AI models already boasting performance on par with eye specialists in the detection of diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and glaucoma.
A/Prof Owen Siggs, recipient of the Glaucoma Australia ‘Quinlivan’ Research Grant in 2022 is now 18 months into his research into the Genomic Risk Stratification to improve glaucoma suspect triage in rural primary care.
Macquarie University researchers have identified a gene therapy that could help treat glaucoma, with potential applications for other neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.