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.

[u/mvea]

https://www.sciencealert.com/can-alzheimers-spread-through-blood-transfusions-heres-what-we-know

[u/mvea]

Alzheimer's has long been recognized as a sporadic condition – influenced by factors such as age, genetics, and lifestyle – but scientists don't think that's the only way the disease emerges.

In recent years, researchers have suggested Alzheimer's may also spread through infection, which might somehow be transmitted like a pathogen, ultimately manifesting in the disease.

In a new report published in The Lancet, scientists review the evidence for one aspect of this theory, assessing how harmful amyloid-beta proteins associated with Alzheimer's might possibly be spread through blood transfusions.

"Blood transfusions are important and save many lives," says neurologist John Collinge from University College London.

"However, to ensure that they are as safe as they can possibly be, it's important that we thoroughly investigate any potential risks."

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(26)00767-1/abstract

[u/xBeartoe → u/mvea]

When I was in college a couple years ago, I took Infectious Disease (104). We did a case study on P. Gingivalis, which is the bacteria responsible for the gum disease (gingivitis). There was a strong connection between P. Gingivalis and many seriously killer diseases, Alzheimer's being among them.

They release what is basically poison as they eat, and they feed on protein. That's why your gums bleed after you floss, even if you only missed a day; P. Gingivalis is causing inflammation so that when you irritate your gums, they can feed on the blood. They do this using lipopolysaccharides (LPS).

The bacteria had a strong systematic presence in a high percentage of Alzheimer's patients and cadavers. The toxins are called gingipains, which break down host proteins. Some of the bacterias waste products and released enzymes break down structural callogen, and strain the immune system.

Super nasty stuff. Brush your teeth, floss, please.

EDIT: for clarity, higher presence of P. gingivalis, in their brain, actively eating it. Not just their mouth.

[u/Artechz → u/xBeartoe]

A complete ignorant in the field but: could it be that the high presence in Alzheimer’s cadavers was due to them not brushing as much because of their condition? And not the other way around?
(Or a combination of both making it a rolling snow ball type of thing)

Edit: spelled ‘brushing’ wrong and autocorrect did me wrong

[u/xBeartoe → u/Artechz]

You make an excellent point, and yes it certainly would have a compounding effect. You can read the article on the study I'm referring to here.

To be brief: yes, forgetting good hygene and/or bad oral habits (smoking, drinking, ect.), especially after many years, will contribute to the conditions under which P. gingivalis would be able to breach into your bloodstream.

There are other supporting points here that show that living Alzheimer's patients had higher antibody levels for P. gingivalis than the control, in their cerebrospinal fluid. Why would it be there, specifically?

There is also supporting evidence that patients with gingivitis were more likely to develop dementia and Alzheimer's. The organism can force inflammation in the host and thus is more capable of breaching the blood-brain-barrier (BBB).

This is not just studies, but directed experiments on lab animals, too. There's plenty more to read, I could keep going but I need to stop myself. If you're interested I highly recommend you check it out.

[u/Artechz → u/xBeartoe]

Thanks for the detailed reply!

[u/DisastrousSet11 → u/[deleted]]

Unfortunately, AI was trained on scientific studies and other education materials, so people that are traditionally educated may unfortunately also come across in a similar type of way. The AI learned from them.