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Re-activateCoughs and sneezes spread diseases, runs the old slogan, and according to new research, people with Alzheimer's disease who catch a cold could face more severe consequences than just a sniffle. It seems that infections could speed the decline in memory that happens with Alzheimer's.
The theory is that inflammation in the body plays a part in causing Alzheimer's. Inflammation is the body's response to illness or injury, so infections, or even bruises, could worsen the symptoms of Alzheimer's.
In the study, researchers measured levels of a chemical called TNF-alpha in 275 people with Alzheimer's. TNF-alpha is a chemical that helps cause inflammation in the body. Six months later, people with high levels of this chemical tended to score slightly worse in memory tests than people with lower levels. However, the effect was slight: small enough that you might not notice a difference in day-to-day life. Researchers also looked at whether people had suffered an infection or injury during the six-month study. About half the people had at least one infection or injury. These people were also likely to get poorer scores in memory tests, although again, the difference was small.In the long term, better understanding of the causes of Alzheimer's may help scientists develop new treatments. However, this particular piece of research isn't exactly conclusive. We can't rule out the possibility that people with more severe Alzheimer's were more at risk of injuries and infections.
For example, we know that Alzheimer's is linked to a higher risk of falls. Also, someone struggling to look after themselves may not take care to wash their hands regularly, which could increase their risk of catching a cold. So, the relationship between illnesses and Alzheimer's might not be one of cause and effect.
What you need to know. There seems to be some kind of link between inflammation and Alzheimer's, and it's possible that minor infections could speed memory decline in Alzheimer's patients. However, it's not clear yet whether trying to prevent infections would slow down the progress of Alzheimer's—Philip Wilson, patient editor, BMJ Group
ConsumerReportsHealth.org has partnered with The BMJ Group (British Medical Journal) to monitor the latest medical research and assess the evidence to help you decide which news you should use.
Read more on how fun and games can help delay dementia, read about advances in treatment options for Alzheimer's, and find out which drugs work best (subscribers only) in treating Alzheimer's.
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