A “harmless” virus transmitted by half of adults could increase the risk of Alzheimer’s, shock research suggests today.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV), which causes a cold-like illness, can be transmitted in the same way as other viruses from person to person through bodily fluids such as blood, saliva, and urine.
But the infection is present in up to 45 percent of Alzheimer’s cases, according to American scientists.
Some people exposed to the virus can develop a chronic intestinal infection, allowing it to enter the bloodstream and travel to the brain.
Here, according to researchers, it is recognized by immune cells in the brain (microglia), which helps contribute to the biological changes involved in Alzheimer’s.
The scientists, who called the findings “exciting,” hope the research can pave the way to confirm whether common antiviral drugs used to treat CVM can help prevent this form of the memory-robbing disease.
They warned, however, that simply coming into contact with the virus, something that happens to almost everyone, should not be a cause for concern.
The infection only appears to be associated with Alzheimer’s when it is found in the brain.
NICE also said it had identified a further 27 medicines that it “expects to be asked to evaluate in the coming years”.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. The disease can cause anxiety, confusion and short-term memory loss.
To date, So far, no illness has been consistently linked to the disease.
Dr Ben Readhead, co-author of the study and associate professor of neurodegenerative diseases at Arizona State University, said: “We believe we have found a biologically unique subtype of Alzheimer’s that may affect 25 to 45 percent of people with this disease.”
This subtype, he added, presents an accumulation of the proteins amyloid and tau in the brain (a hallmark of Alzheimer’s), as well as a “distinct profile of the virus (CVM), antibodies and immune cells in the brain.”
“This subtype of Alzheimer’s includes the characteristic amyloid plaques and tau tangles (microscopic brain abnormalities used for diagnosis) and presents a distinct biological profile of viruses, antibodies and immune cells in the brain.”
In the study, scientists examined cerebrospinal fluid to track how CVM antibodies move in the body.
They found CMV inside the vagus nerve, which carries signals between the brain, heart and digestive system, and suggested that this is how the virus travels to the brain.
Then tests on human brain cells showed the virus. increased the production of amyloid and tau proteins and contributed to the degeneration and death of neurons.
Writing in the journal Alzheimer’s and Dementia, researchers said the study illustrates the impact infections can have on brain health and neurodegeneration in general.
It is currently believed that around 900,000 Britons suffer from this memory-robbing disorder. But scientists at University College London estimate this figure will rise to 1.7 million within two decades as people live longer. It marks a 40 percent increase from the previous forecast in 2017.
But more independent studies are needed to test their findings and resulting hypotheses, they added.
Dr. Eric Reiman, CEO of the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute and lead author of the study, also said: “We are excited about the opportunity for researchers to test our findings in ways that will make a difference in the study, subtyping, treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease. .’
A recent analysis by the Alzheimer’s Society estimates that the total annual cost of dementia in the UK is £42 billion a year, with families hardest hit.
An aging population means these costs – which include lost income from unpaid carers – will soar to £90 billion over the next 15 years.
Around 944,000 people in the UK are thought to be living with dementia, while in the US the figure is around 7 million.
Alzheimer’s affects approximately six in 10 people with dementia.
It is believed to be caused by a buildup of amyloid and tau in the brain, which build up and build up of plaques and tangles that make it difficult for the brain to function properly.
Over time, the brain struggles to cope with this damage and symptoms of dementia develop.
Memory problems, thinking and reasoning difficulties, and language problems are common early symptoms of the condition, which then worsen over time.
Dementia is expected to skyrocket in the coming years, so a cheap screening tool is vital to meeting the challenge.
Analysis by Alzheimer’s Research UK found that 74,261 people died from dementia in 2022, compared to 69,178 the previous year, making it the leading cause of death in the country.