A Spanish research team reported in the journal Scientific Reports that they found cells and other material from âseveral fungal speciesâ in the blood vessels and brain tissue of 11 deceased Alzheimerâs patients, but not in the 10 Alzheimerâs-free control patients.
To date, the main suspect in AD has been brain âplaquesâ caused by a build-up of sticky proteins, but trials with drugs targeting these plaques have brought back disappointing results. This new study offers another possible cause to the list.
The team reports that several fungal species were found, which âmight explain the diversity observed in the evolution and severity of clinical symptoms in each AD patient.â
According to the team, a fungal cause would fit well with the characteristics of Alzheimerâs, including the slow progression of Alzheimerâs and inflammationâan immune response to infectious agents that include fungi.
Researchers point out that the fungal infection may be the result, rather than the cause of AD. Alzheimerâs patients might have a weaker immune system response; changes in diet or hygiene could also leave them more exposed.
The team urges the need for clinical trials to establish a causal effect of fungal infection of AD.
âThere are at present a number of highly effective antifungal compounds with little toxicity. A combined effort from the pharmaceutical industry and clinicians is needed to design clinical trials to test the possibility that AD is caused by fungal infection,â explained the team behind the study.
Alzheimerâs is the most common form of dementia, affecting approximately 50 million people worldwide with 7.7 million new cases each year. Symptoms include disorientation, memory loss, anxiety, and aggressive behavior. There is no therapy to reverse symptoms of Alzheimer’s.
Sources for Todayâs Article:
âStudy questions link between fungus and Alzheimer’s,â CTV News web site, last updated October 16, 2015; http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/study-questions-link-between-fungus-and-alzheimer-s-1.2612733, last accessed October 16, 2015.