INTRODUCTION:
Experts on Alzheimer's disease are captivated by the idea that infections, those that are too mild to cause actual symptoms could possibly produce a fierce reaction leaving debris in the brain and in this case causing Alzheimer's in people as they age. The hypothesis makes sense and the data supports the hypothesis in that the major implications for preventing and treating this degenerative brain disease.
A virus, fungus, or a bacterium gets into the brain, passing through the the blood brain barrier membrane which becomes leakier with age. The brain’s defense system rushes in to stop the invader by making a sticky cage out of proteins, called beta amyloid. The microbe gets trapped, leaving behind a plaque that is the unique hallmark of Alzheimer’s. Data from the research, so far, have supported their hypothesis of the neurons growing in petri dishes including those in yeast, roundworms, fruit flies, and mice.
If these proteins were to be found anywhere else in the body, for example proteins called trap microbes ( viruses, fungi, yeast, bacteria). After the initial defense, the body releases WBCs to clear up any mess formed. Dr. Moir, came to the conclusion of the possibility that amyloids were also part of that system. AT Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts' General hospital, he began working with Rudolph Tanzi on a study to see if amyloids were trapped in microbes in living animals as well as if mice which lack these amyloid proteins were quickly ravaged by infections that amyloid could have stopped.
The idea in researchers minds has always been that the plaques were a form of trash accumulated in the brain. Alzheimer's pathway is supported by years of research. Plaques form and set off the formation of tangled threadlike tau proteins. Then, as tangles of tau kill nerve cells, the brain becomes inflamed, resulting in the killing of many more nerve cells. There were a few puzzling clues that something else might be going on, but they did not make much sense.
The incidence of dementia has been declining is the past few years. The reasoning behind the results of these recent data suggests that individuals have been taking better control of their blood pressures and cholesterol levels. By doing so, they are starving off mini strokes which can cause dementia. Much more work is needed in this area of medical research.
The
Cure Alzheimer’s Fund is initiating a large collaborative project that
will use gene sequencing technology to carefully look for microbes in
the brain. These careful observations will range from the brains of people who had Alzheimer's and those who never developed the disease. The microbes located within the plaques in human brains will also be collected. Dr. Tanzi strongly suggests that the very first question that needs to be answered is whether there are microbes that can sneak into the brain as we age triggering amyloid deposition so that we can then set a new goal in stopping them.
(A)http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/26/health/alzheimers-disease-infection.html?_r=0
*Please note! These images are not mine. They were found on various tumblr sites! If any are yours please let me know so that I can give you credit for them! Also the people in the images have no relation to the diseases, illnesses, or cancers I write about. Thanks so much & enjoy~
