Alzheimer’s disease is a devastating illness that causes progressive memory loss and severe cognitive impairment. It affects around 50 million people worldwide, with an estimated 5.7 million Americans living with the disease.

Currently, there is no cure, and the existing treatments mainly aim at slowing the progression of the disease.

For years, scientists have been trying to understand what causes Alzheimer’s disease, but the exact causes and underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood.

However, groundbreaking new research suggests that the root causes of Alzheimer’s might be viruses and bacteria.

31 Scientists Find Evidence of Bacterial and Viral Presence in Alzheimer’s Brains

Recently, a group of 31 scientists from ten countries published a report in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease that explored the potential links between Alzheimer’s disease and viral and bacterial infections.

The report presented compelling evidence that viruses and bacteria might be the hidden culprits behind Alzheimer’s.

The study’s authors believe that the brain’s immune system, which usually functions to protect the brain from infections, can sometimes go awry, leading to the buildup of amyloid plaques and the death of nerve cells, which are the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease.

“It’s long been suspected that infections somehow promote Alzheimer’s, but this study provides the strongest evidence to date linking specific viral and bacterial infections to Alzheimer’s,” says Dr.

Stephen Salloway, a senior author of the report and the director of neurology and the Memory and Aging Program at Butler Hospital and Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.

The Evidence That Points to Viruses and Bacteria in Alzheimer’s Disease

Below are some of the key findings of the study that support the idea that viruses and bacteria might be involved in Alzheimer’s disease:.

Bacterial DNA Found in the Brains of Alzheimer’s Patients

The researchers examined the brain tissue of 622 people who had Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment, or no cognitive impairment.

They found that the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease were significantly more likely to have bacterial DNA compared to the brains of people without cognitive impairment.

The bacterial DNA was identified as belonging to several different bacteria, including Chlamydia pneumoniae, which causes respiratory infections, and periodontal bacteria, which can cause gum disease.

Presence of Herpes Virus in Alzheimer’s Brains

The researchers found that the brains of Alzheimer’s patients were more likely to have the herpes virus compared to healthy brains.

Herpes viruses are common, and most people have them, but the virus can reactivate later in life, leading to cold sores or genital herpes.

The study found that the herpes virus was present in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients at higher levels than in the brains of people without cognitive impairment.

Bacterial Infection Associated with Increased Risk of Developing Alzheimer’s

The researchers looked at medical records of 8,039 people and found that those who had been treated for a bacterial infection were more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease later in life.

The risk was especially high for people who had been treated for pneumonia, a type of lung infection.

Bacterial Infection Associated with Faster Cognitive Decline in Alzheimer’s Patients

The researchers followed 309 Alzheimer’s patients for six months and found that those who had bacterial infections had a faster cognitive decline compared to those without infections.

The bacterial infections included chronic infections, such as pneumonia and urinary tract infections, and acute infections, such as sepsis.

What Does This Mean for Alzheimer’s Research?

The findings of this study suggest that infections, particularly bacterial and viral infections, might be a previously overlooked factor in the development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

The study highlights the need for more research into how infections affect the brain and whether preventing or treating infections could help prevent or slow down Alzheimer’s disease.

According to Dr.

Salloway, “The identification of these infectious agents in Alzheimer’s disease could lead to new strategies to detect, treat, and prevent the disease.” He added, “There’s still a lot we don’t understand about the role of infections in Alzheimer’s, but this study provides strong evidence that it’s a promising area for further research.”.

The Road Ahead

The study raises many questions about the potential link between infections, such as viruses and bacteria, and Alzheimer’s disease.

However, the findings of this study provide a new direction for Alzheimer’s research, one that could lead to new treatments and a better understanding of the underlying causes of the disease.

While much work remains to be done, the study offers hope that a cure for Alzheimer’s disease might be within reach.