WHAT CAUSES ALZHEIMER'S?

Researchers Identify Virus and Two Types of Bacteria as Major Causes of Alzheimer’s

 'A worldwide team of senior scientists and clinicians have come together to produce an editorial which indicates that certain microbes – a specific virus and two specific types of bacteria – are major causes of Alzheimer’s Disease. Their paper, which has been published online in the highly regarded peer-reviewed journal, Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, stresses the urgent need for further research – and more importantly, for clinical trials of anti-microbial and related agents to treat the disease.
 http://neurosciencenews.com/microbes-alzheimers-neurology-3826/

Microbes and Alzheimer’s Disease

'AD is associated with neuronal loss and progressive synaptic dysfunction, accompanied by the deposition of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide, a cleavage product of the amyloid-β protein precursor (AβPP), and abnormal forms of tau protein, markers that have been used as diagnostic criteria for the disease [9, 10]. These constitute the hallmarks of AD, but whether they are causes of AD or consequences is unknown. We suggest that these are indicators of an infectious etiology. In the case of AD, it is often not realized that microbes can cause chronic as well as acute diseases; that some microbes can remain latent in the body with the potential for reactivation, the effects of which might occur years after initial infection; and that people can be infected but not necessarily affected, such that ‘controls’, even if infected, are asymptomatic'
and 

'In summary, we propose that infectious agents, including HSV1, Chlamydia pneumonia, and spirochetes, reach the CNS and remain there in latent form. These agents can undergo reactivation in the brain during aging, as the immune system declines, and during different types of stress (which similarly reactivate HSV1 in the periphery). The consequent neuronal damage— caused by direct viral action and by virus-induced inflammation— occurs recurrently, leading to (or acting as a cofactor for) progressive synaptic dysfunction, neuronal loss, and ultimately AD. Such damage includes the induction of Aβ which, initially, appears to be only a defense mechanism.'
The above was published March 2016 in ISO Press -
 http://content.iospress.com/articles/journal-of-alzheimers-disease/jad160152



This is a call for research to be done in this important field and to look at antimicrobial therapy as a way forward to treating some cases of Alzheimer's.


'Professor Resia Pretorius of the University of Pretoria, who worked with Douglas Kell on the editorial, said “The microbial presence in blood may also play a fundamental role as causative agent of systemic inflammation, which is a characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease – particularly, the bacterial cell wall component and endotoxin, lipopolysaccharide. Furthermore, there is ample evidence that this can cause neuroinflammation and amyloid-β plaque formation.”
The findings of this editorial could also have implications for the future treatment of Parkinson’s Disease, and other progressive neurological conditions.'-
http://neurosciencenews.com/microbes-alzheimers-neurology-3826/ 

Many of the media outlets have focused on the aspect of herpes virus and sadly missed the connection with bacteria - notably spirocaetal infections. 
Prof Judith Miklossy was one of the authors of this editorial and her work with Borrelia spirocaetes and dental spirochaetes has been discussed on this blog previously here 
http://lookingatlyme.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=Miklossy

Below is an important presentation from Dr Alan MacDonald on the subject of Borrelia infections of the brain and the development of Alzheimer's Disease.

Review of Infectious Borrelia species Chronic Brain Infections and the Development of Alzheimer's Disease from Alan MacDonald on Vimeo.