Advanced Glycation End Products as a Biomarker for Accelerated Ageing in Glaucomatous Optic Neuropathy

Globally primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) affects over 60 million people. The exact pathogenesis of POAG is poorly understood. A significant risk factor for glaucoma is advancing age. The rate of ageing is not the same in all age matched individuals. The concept of accelerated ageing suggests that the presence of a number of specific genetic, environmental or systemic risk factors may cumulate to accelerate the ageing process in some individuals and lead to the development of age-related disease. Understanding the factors that influence accelerated ageing is vital. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are a complex group of compounds that are naturally formed. They accumulate gradually with age in cells, tissues and blood vessels throughout the body where they adversely affect structure and function. Circulating AGE levels can be influenced by oxidative stress levels and dietary intake. Recent research has found that sustained exposure to high levels of circulating AGEs could be a major factor in the development of a number of chronic age-related degenerative disorders, including POAG. To date there have been few clinical studies that have been able to non-invasively explore the association between AGE levels and the development and progression of glaucomatous optic neuropathy (GON), or to explore the possible contribution that oxidative stress and dietary intake make to total tissue AGE levels in such patients. Furthermore little is understood about the relationship between AGE levels and retinal vascular function, a parameter known to be altered in GON that also could be influenced by AGE levels. The proposed study will aim to evaluate whether tissue-bound AGE levels are associated with parameters of retinal vascular function, oxidative stress, dietary intake and the presence of GON. Establishing this association could increase our understanding of the pathogenesis of GON and allow a new biomarker for accelerated ocular ageing to be realised