advertisement
Abstract #25414 Published in IGR 12-1
Visual aspects of neurologic protein misfolding disorders
Pula J H; Kim J; Nichols JCurrent Opinions in Ophthalmology 2009; 20: 482-489
Purpose of review: This article reviews topics of interest to the ophthalmologist relating to the most common neurologic protein misfolding disorders. Recent findings: Many neurodegenerative diseases are pathologically associated with misfolded proteins. These diseases cause a profound impact of disability to the individual and society. Alzheimer's disease costs alone are estimated to be over US$225 billion annually in the USA. The ophthalmologist is often asked to provide an opinion regarding the cause of visual symptoms in patients with these unique disorders. The categorization of neurodegenerative diseases has evolved based on advances in genetic, molecular and pathological research. In many neurodegenerative diseases, aggregation of a misfolded protein is responsible for the development of pathologic inclusions. When the misfolded protein is tau or synuclein, these diseases are called tauopathies or synucleinopathies, respectively. This article focuses on ophthalmic findings in some of the most common tauopathies and synucleinopathies: Alzheimer's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies and multisystem atrophy.
J. H. Pula. University of Chicago, Department of Neurology, 5841 South Maryland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637, United States. John.Pula@uchospitals.edu
Classification:
9.4.15 Glaucoma in relation to systemic disease (Part of: 9 Clinical forms of glaucomas > 9.4 Glaucomas associated with other ocular and systemic disorders)
3.6 Cellular biology (Part of: 3 Laboratory methods)
