Viral role in Alzheimer's Disease discovered
University of OxfordAug 02, 2022
In a study published in Neuron last week, researchers that analyzed 450k health records found at least 22 links between patients who suffered from a viral infection like influenza and the onset of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's or Alzheimer's later in life.
The study examined around 35k records — sourced from a Finnish database — belonging to patients with brain diseases and approximately 310k without.
Researchers are beginning to better understand the damage that a lifetime of viral infections can do to the brain, calling attention to the importance of vaccines, which could play a significant role in minimizing the number of viral infections occurring. If viral infections increase individuals' risk of developing neurological diseases, then vaccines and antivirals should be explored as a means of reducing this risk.
While these types of studies are undoubtedly significant, we need to be cautious not to confuse correlation with causation. This analysis merely shows a relationship between viral infections and brain disease, but falls short of proving that a virus leads to neurodegenerative disease. More robust studies are needed to add weight to such a claim and offer tangible ways to delay or prevent neurological disorders.