'Alzheimer's protein' linked with eye health

A key protein implicated in the development of Alzheimer’s disease has been found to also play a role in eye disease such as cataract.

New research published in FASEB Journal this month has shown that the amyloid precursor protein, long known to play a role in Alzheimer’s disease, is bound to by the proteins FE65 and FE65L1.

When the genes responsible for these binding proteins are absent, then severe degeneration of the crystalline lens in mice results.

Additionally, this study demonstrates that the expression of laminin, a protein pivotal for the interaction between lens epithelial cells and the lens capsule, is severely altered in mice lenses missing both FE65 and FE65L1 genes.  If confirmed in human studies, the FE65 and FE65L1 proteins may become a therapeutic target for cataracts, muscular dystrophy and Alzheimer's disease.