A new study from Griffith University in Australia has revealed that bacteria commonly found in the nose can infiltrate the brain and may lead to infection. Alzheimer’s disease Later, according to the websiteneurosciencenews“.
Associate Professor Jenny Ekberg and colleagues from the Clem Jones Center for Neurobiology and Stem Cell Research at the Menzies Health Queensland Institute and the Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, in collaboration with Queensland University of Technology, discovered that Chlamydia pneumoniae bacteria can invade the brain via nasal cavity nerves.
While these bacteria often cause respiratory infections, they have also been found in the brain, raising the question of whether they cause damage to the central nervous system.
The research team conducted extensive research on animal models to show not only how the bacteria enter the brain, but also how it leads to Alzheimer’s disease.
Professor Ekberg said: “Our work has previously shown that several different types of bacteria can rapidly, within 24 hours, enter the central nervous system via the peripheral nerves running between the nasal cavity and the brain.”
“With this basic knowledge, we were able to trace how this new bacteria, Chlamydia pneumoniae, can infiltrate the blood-brain barrier and quickly enter the brain.”
The new study shows that once bacteria are present in the central nervous system, brain cells react within days by precipitating beta-amyloid peptide, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.
After several weeks, several genetic pathways known to be involved in Alzheimer’s disease are also activated.
The research also showed that when bacteria invade the olfactory nerve, peripheral nerve cells (glial cells) become infected, and these cells may be how the bacteria can persist within the nervous system.
Professor Ekberg said: “These cells are usually important defenses once morest bacteria, but in this case, they become infected and can help the bacteria to spread.”
“We’ve long suspected that bacteria, and even viruses, can trigger nerve inflammation and contribute to the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, however, bacteria alone may not be enough to cause disease in a person. It probably requires a combination of genetic susceptibility as well as bacteria lead to Alzheimer’s disease in the long term.
