Past studies looking for an association between glaucoma and Alzheimer’s disease have been inconclusive. However, a recent 2015 large study of 7770 Alzheimer’s patients found such an association, specifically with women.
The study appeared in the July 2015 issue of Eye, and it was based on a study of ethnic Chinese in Asia. Each Alzheimer’s patient was matched randomly with controls of the same age and gender. They looked at who had a previous diagnosis of open-angle glaucoma.
Open-angle glaucoma is the most common form of glaucoma. Up to 40% of patients with open-angle glaucoma do not have elevated eye pressure. This “chronic” type of glaucoma silently steals vision, starting in the periphery. Regular eye exams are essential to detecting glaucoma. Treatments are available to slow down the progression of this serious eye disease.
The study adjusted for patient socioeconomic characteristics and multiple diseases. It found that in female patients with Alzheimer’s disease, there was a statistically significant higher incidence of open-angle glaucoma. No association was found in the male patients.
This study implies that an unhealthy body begins to accumulate a longer and longer list of chronic diseases. Maintaining overall health through a balanced diet, exercise, lower stress and supplementation can help head off poor health and disease. Check out our protocol for overall wellness.
Learn more about Alzheimer’s and glaucoma.
Editor’s Note: There is also an apparent connection between Alzheimer’s and environmental pollutants such as mercury, lead, aluminum, cadmium, arsenic, pesticides and metal-based nanoparticles.1
Source: Dementia is associated with open-angle glaucoma: a population-based study. S-D Chung, J-D Ho, C-H Chen, H-C Lin, M-C Tsai and J-J Sheu. Eye, (10 July 2015)
Footnote:
- M. Chin-Chan, Environmental pollutants as risk factors for neurodegenerative disorders: Alzheimer and Parkinson diseases., Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, April, 2015.