FUNGUS FOUND IN BRAINS RAISES ALZHEIMER’S QUESTIONS

By Mariette Le RouxOctober 15, 2015 10:55 AM

Traces of fungus have been discovered in the brains of Alzheimer’s sufferers, researchers said Thursday, relaunching the question: might the disease be caused by an infectious microbe? There is no conclusive evidence, but if the answer turns out to be “yes”, it means Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) may be targeted with antifungal treatment, a Spanish team reported in the journal Scientific Reports. “The possibility that AD is a fungal disease, or that fungal infection is a risk factor for the disease, opens new perspectives for effective therapy for these patients,” they wrote…

A fungal cause would fit well with the characteristics of AD, the researchers added, including the slow progression of the disease and inflammation, which is an immune response to infectious agents such as fungi.

The researchers did point out, however, that fungal infection may be the result, not the cause, of AD.

Alzheimer’s sufferers may have a weaker immune response, or changes in diet or hygiene, that could leave them more exposed.

“It is evident that clinical trials will be necessary to establish a causal effect of fungal infection of AD,” wrote the team…