These 4 infections are linked to an increase in dementia risk
MDlinx Dec 03, 2024
Industry Buzz
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“Based on the findings of [recent] studies, there is a likely role of post-infection chronic immune molecular mediators leading to increased risk of dementia.” — Arman Fesharaki-Zadeh, MD, PhD
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"Viruses like herpes simplex can directly attack the nervous system, causing lasting damage that increases dementia risk in the future." — Christopher Norman, MSN, APRN
Find more of your peers' perspectives and insights below.
Recent research has shed new light on the potential link between certain infections and an increased risk of dementia.
Duggan MR, Peng Z, Sipilä PN, et al. Proteomics identifies potential immunological drivers of postinfection brain atrophy and cognitive decline. Nature Aging. 2024;4(9):1263–1278.
The study, published in Nature Aging, highlights that severe infections—ranging from influenza and other viral infections to respiratory and skin conditions—may play a significant role in the development of dementia and brain atrophy.
The study also explores the underlying mechanisms that could explain how such infections contribute to cognitive decline.
This growing body of evidence underscores the need for further investigation into how infectious diseases might influence brain health, especially as the global population ages.
How infections contribute to chronic disease
While it is widely recognised that factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity contribute to the likelihood of developing this condition, it’s becoming clearer that severe infections from various pathogens also play a significant role in raising the risk of developing dementia.
Researchers are still exploring how infections generally contribute to the risk of chronic illnesses like cancer and dementia. For example, it’s been suggested that viral infections can disrupt the signalling pathways responsible for regulating cell growth and proliferation, leading to cancer.
National Cancer Institute. Infectious Agents. March 4, 2019.
Arman Fesharaki-Zadeh, MD, PhD, BMath, an assistant professor of psychiatry and neurology at Yale School of Medicine, notes, “The major pathological factor involved with infections is the post-infectious inflammatory process.”
Christopher Norman, MSN, APRN, a board-certified geriatric nurse practitioner with the National Council on Aging, expands on this point, explaining that infections can trigger inflammation and immune system responses that may cause amyloid plaques and tau proteins to proliferate. "Viruses like herpes simplex can directly attack the nervous system, causing lasting damage that increases dementia risk in the future," he says.
About the new study
In the 2024 Nature Aging study, researchers explored the connection between past infections, changes in brain volume, and the risk of all-cause dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and vascular dementia.
Duggan MR, Peng Z, Sipilä PN, et al. Proteomics identifies potential immunological drivers of postinfection brain atrophy and cognitive decline. Nature Aging. 2024;4(9):1263–1278.
They conducted a large-scale study using blood samples from participants enrolled in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging to identify immunologically relevant proteins linked to infection that can help predict changes in the brain.
The researchers observed a link between influenza, viral, respiratory, and skin infections and a higher risk of developing dementia later in life. They also found that these infections could lead to changes in brain volume, particularly in the temporal lobe.
Among 260 infection-related proteins, the researchers found that 35, including ITGB6 and TLR5, were associated with changes in brain areas susceptible to volume loss with infection. They also identified proteins, including PIK3CG, PACSIN2, and PRKCB, to be associated with cognitive decline and biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease and neurodegeneration.
“Based on the findings of this study and similar published studies, there is a likely role of post-infection chronic immune molecular mediators leading to increased risk of dementia,” says Dr Fesharaki-Zadeh.
Overall, Norman notes that “it's important to understand that infections can cause systemic inflammation that can significantly impact brain health over time. Preventing and promptly managing infections helps lower the chance of developing neurodegenerative diseases in the future.”
Reducing the risk
“The current study further highlights the importance of the prevention of infections as a protective measure against the development of neurodegenerative diseases and dementia,” notes Dr Fesharaki-Zadeh. “And we all have the capacity (and hopefully the motivation) to practice these measures.”
Norman recommends patients maintain a healthy lifestyle with proper nutrition, physical activity, and good sleep. “Appropriately managing other health conditions can [also] help improve your immune system to help prevent getting an infection in the first place and protect your brain,” he says.
Dr. Fesharaki-Zadeh emphasises the importance of regular vaccination and proper hygiene practices. “There has been a great deal of controversy around vaccination, but the public health research overwhelmingly supports the lifesaving benefits of appropriate and timely vaccination," he says.
What this means for you
Physicians can educate patients about the importance of following healthy habits to support their immune health and reduce their risk of severe infections, supported by a growing body of evidence linking severe infection to an increase in dementia risk. Encourage patients to prioritise rest and to take medications as prescribed to reduce their risk of long-term health problems, including dementia, after an infection.
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