Viewing molecular mechanisms of ageing through a lens

Many late-life diseases are conformational diseases in tissues where there are unfolded or mis-folded proteins which can form aggregates. These diseases have other common features in their aetiology. Cataract is one such disease and post-translational modifications of proteins in the lens during cataract formation are described as a possible guide to the changes in other age-related conditions. Delineation of common pathways in these diseases could lead to common treatment regimes, and in this respect, there are promising results for aspirin-like drugs in Alzheimer's disease, cataract, myocardial infarction, stroke and various cancers. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.