[Research progress on the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease related to infectious pathogens]

Alzheimer's disease (AD), one of the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders, is clinically characterized by progressive memory decline and cognitive impairment, predominantly affecting the elderly population. The pathogenesis of AD remains incompletely elucidated, and effective curative treatments are currently lacking. Notably, China has become the country with the highest number of AD cases globally. Growing evidence suggests that infections may play a crucial role in the initiation and progression of AD, though the precise mechanisms remain unclear. This review systematically examines how infectious agents participate in AD pathogenesis through key pathways including: driving neuroinflammatory responses, disrupting the blood-brain barrier and mediating central nervous system invasion, programmed cell death, and modulating epigenetic regulation and gene expression. We focus on recent advances in understanding the associations between AD and diverse pathogens including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. Finally, we discuss current anti-infective therapeutic strategies and outline future research priorities, aiming to provide novel theoretical foundations and investigative approaches for AD prevention and treatment.