by QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

Cataract in human eye. Credit: Wikipedia.

QIMR Berghofer researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery in the largest ever genetic study on cataracts, analyzing the DNA of more than 950,000 people.

The team, led by Associate Professors Miguel Renteria and Puya Gharahkhani, along with researcher Santiago Diaz-Torres, identified 101 regions in the human genome associated with an increased risk of developing cataracts. Of these regions, 57 have not been associated with cataracts before.

The study, published in Nature Communications, not only sheds light on the genetic underpinnings of cataracts but also offers new hope for prevention and treatment. The research suggests that certain drugs could potentially slow or prevent cataract formation, providing an alternative to surgery.

The findings also pave the way for genetic screening to identify individuals at high risk for cataracts, enabling personalized eye health interventions such as limiting UV exposure, wearing protective hats, and managing conditions like diabetes that can impact vision.

MR results of the putative causal association between cataracts and type 1 diabetes (N = 33). Credit: Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-53212-6

More information: Santiago Diaz-Torres et al, Uncovering genetic loci and biological pathways associated with age-related cataracts through GWAS meta-analysis, Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-53212-6

Journal information: Nature Communications 

Provided by QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute