Could IInfections Trigger Alzheimer’s? A Dedicated Group of Researchers Seeks Answers
July 31, 2024
Philadelphia is hosting what is touted as the largest international conference on Alzheimer’s disease, attracting thousands of researchers to the city center. Meanwhile, on the outskirts, a smaller, more focused gathering of about 80 scientists is exploring an alternative angle: the potential role of pathogens in causing Alzheimer’s.
This smaller meeting reflects the evolving perspective within the Alzheimer’s research community, which has traditionally focused on amyloid beta, a protein associated with plaque formation in the brain, as the primary driver of the disease. However, recent evidence suggests a growing connection between pathogens and Alzheimer’s. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated interest in this area, as neurological symptoms observed in some cases of Long Covid underscore the potential for viruses to have long-lasting effects on brain health.
Recent studies have also highlighted the possibility that infections can activate tau, another protein implicated in Alzheimer’s. Additionally, a new study has linked the shingles vaccine, which targets a virus that remains dormant in the nervous system, to a reduced risk of developing dementia. This growing body of evidence is prompting researchers to investigate how pathogens might contribute to the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s, challenging the long-standing dominance of the amyloid hypothesis and opening new avenues for understanding and potentially mitigating the disease.
CREDITS: SCIENCE JOURNALS