Amyloidogenesis in the neurodegenerative diseases: age-related macular degeneration and Alzheimer's disease

Geronto-ophthalmological diseases (age-related macular degeneration, pseudo-exfoliative syndrome, pseudo-exfoliative glaucoma, senile cataract) are one of the most important problems of modern ophthalmology. However the treatments are remaining mainly in empirical approach, due to the lack of not only etiological evidences, but also a well-accepted theory of their pathogenesis. In this review, a new sight aiming on the etiopathogenetic commonness and morphological manifestations of the Alzheimer's disease (AD) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) based with the aspect of amyloidogenesis is established. This review demonstrates the key note of AMD and AD pathogenesis is beta-amyloidopathy(Ap), which leading to cytotoxcity, neurodegeneration and the development of pathological apoptosis activated by the formation of intracellular Ap. This approach is a perspective attempt to predetermine new stratagies for the creation of ophthalmogeriatric and neuroprotective drugs affecting the pathogenesis and including all stages of Ap formation and pathological aggregation.