Summary of Catch a Cold, Catch Dementia? The Surprising Connection Unveiled:
Frequent illness can accelerate brain aging and increase the risk of dementia or cognitive decline, according to a study by Tulane University. Researchers found that repeated, moderate inflammation from infections like the flu or seasonal colds led to impaired cognition and disrupted neuronal communication in aging male mice. The study is the first to model repeated, intermittent infections in mice and examine the long-term consequences for brain function and health. The research may have implications for standard care in managing disorders among the elderly and dementia-prone individuals and emphasizes the importance of maintaining good health to prevent infections.
*****
Frequent Illness May Increase Risk of Dementia, Study Finds
A new study by Tulane University suggests frequent illness may accelerate brain aging and increase the risk of dementia or cognitive decline. The research used aging male mice and found that repeated, moderate inflammation from infections such as the flu or seasonal colds led to impaired cognition and disrupted neuronal communication.
Impairments Observed After Only Five Intermittent Treatments
Humans often experience infections and inflammation at substantially higher rates than laboratory mice. Nonetheless, impairments were observed in mice after only five intermittent inflammatory treatments, suggesting that the cognitive change in humans may be more pronounced. This study is the first to model repeated, frequent infections in mice and examine the long-term consequences for brain function and health.
The Effects May Be Subtle but Cumulative
“Our mice only experienced intermittent sickness-like inflammation a handful of times, so the fact that we observed impairments at all was surprising,” said lead author Elizabeth Engler-Chiurazzi. “The effects were subtle, but that’s why I find these results meaningful: In a human, cognitive impairments from a similar number of inflammatory experiences might not be noticeable in their daily lives but could have cumulative effects that negatively impact the aging brain.”
Implications for Managing Infections Among the Elderly
The findings may have significant implications for standard care in managing infections among the elderly and dementia-prone individuals. They are also timely in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing research around the effects of the long-COVID syndrome.
Stay as Healthy and Infection-Free as Possible
In the future, Engler-Chiurazzi said more work needs to be done to understand why infections impact the brain and how to mitigate those effects. In addition, she hopes follow-up studies will investigate whether more vulnerable populations affected by health disparities face a higher burden of neurological effects. “The biggest takeaway from this research, in our opinion, is the importance of staying as healthy and infection-free as possible,” she said.
Comments are closed