Which of the following is NOT a factor contributing to cataract formation with age?

Cataract formation is a multifactorial process influenced by various biochemical and cellular changes in the lens as we age. One of the key factors that contributes to cataract development is an increase in intracellular calcium levels.

As the lens ages, it experiences biochemical changes that can lead to an accumulation of calcium within lens cells. Elevated levels of intracellular calcium can disrupt normal cellular function, leading to increased oxidative stress and protein aggregation – both of which are pivotal in the formation of cataracts.

In contrast, a decrease in glutathione levels and a reduction in alpha crystallins are well-documented contributors to cataract formation. Glutathione is a crucial antioxidant that helps protect the lens from oxidative damage, and alpha crystallins function as molecular chaperones that help maintain lens transparency. As these protective factors decline with age, the risk of cataract formation increases.

Given this context, it's clear that while intracellular calcium indeed increases and contributes to cataractogenesis, a decrease in intracellular calcium does not support the processes leading to cataract formation, making it the correct answer.