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Joined: 1/14/2015
Posts: 40463
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Originally posted by: geegee
JAB, you brought up a very interesting point in a caregiver forum. I posted this question there but I think it really doesn't belong there because the caregiver discussion looks like it is just going on ...as it should.
Anyway, stated, "...AD patients are prone to cataracts." Does that mean patients are prone to cataracts because of the disease itself, or as a result of AD medications?
If cataracts can be a side effect AD, that might help explain why 3 yrs. prior to my AD diagnosis, age 60, I had cataract surgery. I thought the cataracts were premature.. but if there is a relationship to AD, it makes more sense to me. Any reference is appreciated. Thank you, again & always!
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Originally posted by: geegee
JAB? ttt 
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Originally posted by: lorene
Geegee, when the intern stopped by Friday after
my eye doctor apt. we discussed the brain and
my eye problem. apparently she has studied and
taken classes researching and is intensley
interested in the brain and Alzheimers. she
showed me the back part of my head in a diagram
and whats called the "occipital" which is
connected to the eyes and told me to mention to
the tech when i get my pet scan about my eye
problems. if there shows damage it will confirm
the relationship to my eyes and that area of
the brain. of course that will only mean
possible worsening of my eyes, but at least i
will know what the reason is! its amazing how
this disease effects us in so many ways and
there are still so many things even the doctors
dont know. (i have cataracts, but there are
still small so i just have checkups regularly
to keep an eye on them. HUGS and a sunny day to
you!!!
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Originally posted by: geegee
Lorene, Yes it is all fascinating. I am hoping to hear
from some clarifications to my questions. In
the mean time I am interested to hear if they
have been able to help your vision focusing
problems. Have a  day.
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Originally posted by: lorene
Geegee, if the focus problem is due to the occipital part of my brain being damaged, there
is no fix for the focus problem, as a matter of fact my eyes will just get worse. im trying to
wrap my head around this information and its not easy. i guess there are no easy answers
when it comes to this disease. all i can do is accept if indeed that part of my brain is
effected. the brain is both fascinating and scary!! 
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Originally posted by: JAB
quote: Does that mean patients are prone to cataracts because of the disease itself, or as a result of AD medications?
Yes. 
Sorry it took so long to get back to you -- I wanted to check out the latest information before responding. There have indeed been a number of new studies since I looked into cataracts.
Alzheimer's patients get it coming and going when it comes to cataracts.
As people age, the lenses of the eyes may become more and more opaque due to light scattering by abnormally large protein aggregates. When there are enough of these protein aggregates to interfere with vision (glare, blur, decreased contrast sensitivity) they are considered cataracts.
There are three major types of age-related cataracts, i.e., cortical, nuclear, and posterior subcapsular.
There is a fourth type of cataract, the supranuclear cataract, that is associated with, and apparently unique to, Alzheimer's pathology. These AD-linked supranuclear cataracts are phenotypically, anatomically, ultrastructurally, and biochemically distinguishable from common age-related nuclear cataracts.
One of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's is the formation of protein aggregates in the brain, called plaque, which contain beta-amyloid (Abeta). It has been suggested that the same mechanisms underlying plaque formation in the brain may also be involved in the formation of supranuclear cataracts. Studies have indicated that Abeta aggregates are involved in their formation; and other AD-related proteins, such as amyloid precursor protein and presenilin, are also found in the cataractous lens. In addition, disruption of acetylcholinesterase signaling is also thought to increase the risk of supranuclear cataracts.
People with Down syndrome invariably develop early-onset AD, and it has been known for a long time that they also invariably develop early-onset cataracts. Very recent studies have shown the Down syndrome cataracts to be identical to the supranuclear cataracts found in late-onset Alzheimer's patients.
This unique type of cataract does not appear to be found in healthy individuals, or in people with other non-AD neurodegenerative disorders. It is therefore thought to be a good biomarker for Alzheimer's diagnosis.
Then, once a person has Alzheimer's ... cataracts are known to be frequent side effects of drugs such as Aricept and Exelon, which affect the acetylcholine signaling system.
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Originally posted by: geegee
JAB, thank you so much for that
explanation! I understand now how you
AD patients "get it coming
and going when it comes to cataracts." 
Removed once (before diagnosis)... and cataracts are also now a known side effect
of a drug which is a hope for the disease.
Puzzle pieces all going together! That much is good to
see.
Thank you for your explanation for everyone. I will go eat my raw carrots now!
Ignore the clouds and have a sunny day!
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Originally posted by: JAB
Sue, I don't think it's correct to say that "almost everyone starts developing cataracts after the age of 40." See, e.g.:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/7198.php
However, it is true that surgery may not be needed, at least, for quite some time. My husband was told he needed cataract surgery in the mid-1990s. He was dead set against it. He had to have laser iridotomy for closed-angle glaucoma after he was diagnosed with AD. His surgeon, a simply wonderful ophthalmologist, said that some people adjust very well to cataracts and can see a lot better than one would expect from the way they look to the doctor. And there is no reason to have surgery early-on -- cataracts do not become more difficult to treat as they get worse. My husband could still read fine print, and so we waited, and waited, and waited some more ... until even the ophthalmologist said they'd gotten too bad and were seriously degrading his eyesight. He had the surgery in late 2010. (And the first thing he said after the first eye was done was the colors were so much brighter. )
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Originally posted by: Suzie#1
Hi All
Someone had told me that almost everyone starts developing cataracts after the age of 40. Sometimes we don't need surgery to correct it.
Sue
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Originally posted by: Lisa 428
Hi JAB,
I was told about 3 years ago that I had cataracts. They do affect my vision but they are not bad enough to fix.
It's all very interesting.
Thanks.
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Originally posted by: Mattie
This is ironic. I am an early onset AD patient at 47 and 2 weeks ago I had cataract surgery.
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