ReachMDA Study of 500,000 Medical Records Links Viruses to Alzheimer’s Again and Again

Viral Infections Linked to Increased Risk of Neurodegenerative Diseases: Unveiling Potential Pathways and Preventive Strategies

Recent research utilizing an extensive analysis of approximately 500,000 medical records reveals significant connections between certain viral infections and an elevated risk of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. This study, published in Neuron, identifies 22 such connections, highlighting the long-term impact of viruses on brain health and suggesting potential preventive measures through vaccination.

Key Points:

1. The study analyzed around 450,000 individuals, establishing 22 links between viral infections and neurodegenerative diseases.
2. Individuals treated for viral encephalitis were found to be 31 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease.
3. Hospitalizations due to pneumonia following flu were associated with a higher risk of Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s, and ALS.
4. Infections like intestinal infections, meningitis, and varicella-zoster virus (shingles) were also connected to neurodegenerative diseases.
5. The impact of these viral infections on the brain persisted for up to 15 years.
6. Approximately 80% of the implicated viruses are neurotrophic, capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier.
7. Vaccines for influenza, shingles, and pneumonia might mitigate the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases.
8. A separate 2022 study linked Epstein-Barr virus with a 32-fold increased risk of multiple sclerosis.
9. The study utilized data science methods to systematically identify links between viruses and neurodegenerative disorders.
10. Researchers compared the medical records of around 35,000 Finns with neurodegenerative diseases against 310,000 controls, followed by analysis of 100,000 records from the UK Biobank.
11. This observational study adds to the growing body of evidence on the role of viruses in neurodegenerative diseases.
12. The study supports the idea that viral infections and related inflammation are common and possibly avoidable risk factors for neurodegenerative disorders.

“After reading [this] study, we realized that for years scientists had been searching – one-by-one – for links between an individual neurodegenerative disorder and a specific virus.”
– Michael Nalls, Senior Author and Neurogeneticist, National Institute on Aging

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