Cholesterol may be factor in eye disease

Researchers have suggested a mechanism supporting the view that cholesterol-lowering drugs might help reduce the impact of age-related diseases such as macular degeneration.

Research published in this month's Cell Metabolism Journal described both human and animal studies that show older macrophages struggle to expel cholesterol. This then leads to a reduction in their immunity role, leading to increased risk of localised inflammation and subsequent neovascular response.

This may contribute to diseases as varied as arteriosclerosis, cancers and AMD. Drugs reducing the cholesterol presence would reduce the lipid-enhanced decline of macrophages, so reducing the risk of the disease.

One of the researchers, Dr Rajendra Apte, said: 'Based on our findings, we need to investigate whether vision loss caused by macular degeneration could be prevented with cholesterol-lowering eye drops or other medications that might prevent the build-up of lipids beneath the retina.'