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Genetics studies identify new glaucoma links

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A group of scientists jointly directed by Moorfields’ consultant Ananth Viswanathan has identified four new genetic variants linked to the risk of glaucoma

A group of scientists jointly directed by Moorfields’ consultant Ananth Viswanathan has identified four new genetic variants related to metabolism that are linked to the risk of glaucoma.

The study, published in Nature Genetics, investigated the genomes of 35,926 people to discover genetic markers for intraocular pressure (IOP) – a major risk factor for the disease.

One of the most significant findings was that variants in the ABCA1 gene, which help strengthen cell membranes by regulating cellular cholesterol and lipid metabolism, play a role in the determination of IOP.

Last year, a group led by Viswanathan discovered that variants in the ICA1 gene, also involved in lipid metabolism, are strongly related to IOP level.

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