Find out how analysis of 500,000 medical records once again reveals a link between viruses and Alzheimer’s disease.
Tl;dr
- Severe viral illnesses increase the risk of neurodegenerative diseases.
- People with viral encephalitis are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease.
- Vaccines for some of these diseases could reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases.
A link between viral diseases and neurodegenerative disorders
An in-depth study of nearly half a million medical records suggests a worrying link: serious viral infections, such as encephalitis and pneumonia, increase the risk of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
A revealing study
The study highlighted 22 relationships between viral infections and neurodegenerative diseases. For example, individuals who were treated for an inflammation of the brain called viral encephalitis were 31 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, those who were hospitalized for pneumonia after contracting the flu appeared to be more likely to develop Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Viruses that cross the blood-brain barrier
Around 80% of viruses involved in brain diseases were considered ‘neurotrophic’ that is to say capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier. The impact of these viral infections on the brain persisted for up to 15 years in some cases.
Do you like our content?
Receive our latest publications every day for free and directly in your inbox
One hope: vaccination
What do we think?
The results of this study shed new light on the risk factors for neurodegenerative diseases. They emphasize the importance of preventing viral infections, particularly through vaccination. This research could open the way to new strategies for preventing neurodegenerative diseases, a major advance in a field where effective treatments are still too rare.
