Cytosolic β-amyloid deposition and supranuclear cataracts in lenses from people with Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

Background: Pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease include cerebral β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition, amyloid accumulation, and neuritic plaque formation. We aimed to investigate the hypothesis that molecular pathological findings associated with Alzheimer's disease overlap in the lens and brain. Methods: We obtained postmortem specimens of eyes and brain from nine individuals with Alzheimer's disease and eight controls without the disorder, and samples of primary aqueous humour from three people without the disorder who were undergoing cataract surgery. Dissected lenses were analysed by slit-lamp stereophotomicroscopy, western blot, tryptic-digest/mass spectrometry electrospray ionisation, ..