Could Alzheimer's Dementia Be Caused by a Virus? | Psychology Today

Could Alzheimer's Dementia Be Caused by a Virus? | Psychology Today

Could Alzheimer's Dementia Be Caused by a Virus?

Evidence links several common infections to the development of dementia.

Published on October 11, 2011 by Emily Deans, M.D. in Evolutionary Psychiatry

Alzheimer's Disease is a slowly progressive illness of neuron loss leading to memory problems, cognitive impairment, and eventually death. Since there appear to be no conventional medicine ways to prevent Alzheimer's and there is no known cure, there is a flurry of research trying to figure out what may cause the condition (besides genetics, which we can't do much about) and what might help the symptoms.

I've addressed some of this research in previous posts:

Alzheimer's and High Blood Sugar

Alzheimer's and Omega 3s

Dementia and Other Studies of How Saturated Fat is Good for You

Today, we will take a peek at one of the more compelling theories about the cause of Alzheimer's -- it may well be due to an infection. Meaning exposure to certain parasites, bacteria, or viruses, particularly those that tend to inhabit the central nervous system, could bring on the disease. Even if you don't find Alzheimer's that compelling, if infectious agents contribute to its pathology, then you have to open your mind to the idea that many neurodegenerative processes could be due to (or accelerated by) infection. Neurodegenerative diseases include many neurological illnesses, but also depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, autism, and some other psychiatric illness.