Common respiratory bacteria detected in eyes of Alzheimer’s patients
“Chlamydia pneumoniae is a very common respiratory pathogen that many people are exposed to throughout their lives,” he told Fox News Digital. “While the study identifies a link between this bacterium and neurodegeneration, a standard sinus infection does not mean a patient will develop Alzheimer’s.”
The key takeaway, according to Glatt, is that the study opens new doors for potential diagnostics and treatments, but is “not a reason for immediate alarm regarding common infections.”
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Dr. Sharon Fekrat, MD, a clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology and a retina specialist at the Duke University School of Medicine in North Carolina, agreed that the findings could help researchers better understand how inflammation may drive disease progression and “could lead to new ways to detect or treat Alzheimer’s in the future.”
The infection also prompted production of amyloid-beta, which is a protein known to accumulate in the brains of those with Alzheimer’s. (iStock)
“This is early research suggesting that infection-related inflammation may worsen Alzheimer’s disease in people who are already vulnerable,” Fekrat, who also did not work on the study, told Fox News Digital. “It does not mean infections cause Alzheimer’s or that people should worry about past respiratory illnesses.”
What’s next
While some teams are developing and testing retinal imaging tools in living patients, those methods are not yet part of routine clinical screenings or diagnosis, Fekrat noted.
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For now, the best proven steps include following brain-healthy habits, such as managing cardiovascular risk factors, staying mentally and socially engaged, and seeking medical care for any cognitive symptoms, the expert added.
Article source: https://www.foxnews.com/health/common-respiratory-bacteria-detected-eyes-alzheimers-patients