MSU researchers discover link between cholesterol and diabetic retinopathy

trueCollege of Natural Science,Physiology09/07/2023MSU researchers discover link between cholesterol and diabetic retinopathy

Advancements that could lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment for diabetic retinopathy, a common complication that affects the eyes, have been identified by a multi-department research team from Michigan State and other universities. Their findings were recently published in Diabetologia, the official journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes.

Diabetic retinopathy is a medical condition in which damage occurs to the retina due to diabetes mellitus. It is a leading cause of blindness in developed countries.
A multi-department research team from Michigan State and scientists from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Case Western Reserve University and Western University of Health Sciences have discovered a link between cholesterol and diabetic retinopathy that could lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
The team found that diabetes, age-related health conditions and other metabolic disorders can lead to a buildup of cholesterol in the retina. This tends to crystalize and contribute to the development of diabetic retinopathy.
Their findings were recently published in Diabetologia, the official journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes. The study was funded by the National Eye Institute.

Dalin Clark

Image of the Natural Science Building at MSU.

Tim Dorweiler, a Ph.D. candidate in the molecular, cellular and integrated physiology program at MSU, look at crystals in various retinal tissues.

cholesterol crystalsdiabetic retinopathyphysiologyretina scans