5 lakh medical records show how viruses are associated with Alzheimer’s disease
A massive study reveals a relationship between viral infection and the development of subsequent neurodynative disorders. Researchers emphasize preventive measures such as vaccination and initial treatment to help reduce risk.
Researchers found that people who suffered viral encephalitis were 31 times more likely for the development of the brain, Alzheimer’s disease. For every 406 encephalitis cases, 24 patients later developed Alzheimer’s.
Other infections including pneumonia after flu, intestinal infections, meningitis and ringworm (varicella-joster virus) were also associated with the high probability of development of neurodogenorable diseases such as Parkinson’s, dementia and ALS.
The study showed that the effect of viral infection on the brain could maintain up to 15 years. About 80 percent of the viruses involved in this were neurotropic, which means they can overcome blood-brain obstruction and directly affect the nervous system.
Researchers said, “vaccines are available for some of these viruses including influenza, ringworm and pneumonia.” While vaccines cannot prevent all infections, they can dramatically reduce hospitalization and reduce the long -term risk of neurodogenative diseases.
Unlike previous studies, which saw the virus one by one, this research used a data-driven approach. The team analyzed 35,000 Finlands with neurodygenetrable diseases and compared them with 310,000 controls. It identified 45 links between viruses and brain diseases, which were limited to 22 confirmed associations after reviewing 100,000 UK biobank records.
“There are very few effective treatments of neurodygenetic disorders,” Dr. Andrew Singleton, co-writer and director of Alzheimer’s and the center of dentia said. “Our results suggest that viral infection and inflammation of the nervous system can be common and possibly avoidable risk factor.”
Experts recommend awareness of risk factors to help vaccination, quick treatment of viral infections and protecting brain health.
This study combines growing evidence that viral infections can affect brain health for a long time. Although this does not prove to be the cause, preventive measures such as early treatment of vaccines and infections can help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and other neurodynative disorders.
