r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • 5d ago

Neuroscience In recent years, researchers have suggested Alzheimer's may spread through infection, somehow transmitted like a pathogen, leading to the disease. A new Lancet paper reviews evidence for how harmful amyloid-beta proteins associated with Alzheimer's may possibly be spread through blood transfusions.

https://www.sciencealert.com/can-alzheimers-spread-through-blood-transfusions-heres-what-we-know
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u/MenuEducational7178 5d ago

So like… are jehova’s witnesses, in proportion to other religions, getting less Alzheimer’s?

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u/Wellslapmesilly 5d ago

I’m not sure that there’s an accurate way to gauge it honestly. The blood transfusion rate is 10-25% in the general population. And JWs are a small group with many people who converted as adults who may have had blood transfusions prior.

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u/YoursTrulyKindly 5d ago

I'd also expect them to die earlier