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Alzheimer's disease and disseminated mycoses

R Alonso1, D Pisa, A Rábano

  • 1Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa CSIC-UAM, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C / Nicolás Cabrera, 1, Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain.

European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases : Official Publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology
|January 24, 2014
PubMed

Insights

This study found evidence of disseminated fungal infections in most tested Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. These findings suggest a potential link between fungal presence and AD, warranting further investigation into fungal infection as a risk factor.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Alzheimer's disease (AD) involves amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, leading to neuronal damage and inflammation.
  • The role of infections, particularly fungal infections, in AD pathogenesis is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence and extent of fungal infections in patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
  • To explore the potential association between fungal presence and AD.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of blood serum from AD patients.
  • Detection of antibodies against various yeast species and fungal proteins.
  • Measurement of fungal (1,3)-β-glucan levels in blood serum.

Main Results:

  • Disseminated fungal infection was detected in the majority of Alzheimer's disease patients studied.
  • Elevated levels of fungal polysaccharides were found in the peripheral blood of several AD patients.
  • These results indicate the presence of disseminated mycoses in the blood of AD patients.

Conclusions:

  • This study provides the first evidence of detectable fungal infection in blood samples from Alzheimer's disease patients.
  • The findings suggest that disseminated fungal infections may be a significant factor in AD.
  • Further research is needed to determine if fungal infection is a risk factor or contributes to the cause of Alzheimer's disease.

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