Addressing Cholesterol Metabolism Disorders to Prevent Age-Related Vision Loss

A groundbreaking study by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has uncovered a potential strategy to slow or halt the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of vision loss in individuals over 50. Published in inally, research suggests that improving cholesterol processing in the body could protect eye health and possibly other organs.

The research team focused on the role of cholesterol metabolism in AMD, revealing that deficiencies in a molecule called apolipoprotein M (ApoM) are linked to the disease. ApoM contributes to the regulation of "good cholesterol" pathways, aiding in the removal of excess cholesterol, which, if accumulated, can cause inflammation and cellular damage in the retina.

In patients with AMD, lower levels of ApoM are observed in the bloodstream compared to healthy individuals. Since reduced ApoM levels are also associated with cardiovascular diseases, the findings highlight a potential common pathway for these aging-related conditions.

Using human plasma samples and mouse models, scientists demonstrated that increasing ApoM levels can improve retinal health. Strategies such as genetic modification and plasma transfer from healthy mice showed reduced cholesterol deposits, enhanced function of retinal cells, and decreased inflammation. ApoM appears to activate a signaling pathway involving sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), which promotes the breakdown of cholesterol within lysosomes, cellular structures responsible for waste disposal.

Further, the study indicates that therapies aimed at boosting ApoM levels might serve as innovative treatments for AMD and possibly prevent some forms of heart failure driven by similar cholesterol dysregulation. Researchers are collaborating with startups like Mobius Scientific to develop potential therapies based on these findings.

This research underscores the importance of maintaining proper cholesterol metabolism for eye and heart health during aging and opens new avenues for treating age-related diseases by targeting molecular pathways involving ApoM and S1P.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-problems-cholesterol-metabolism-stave.html