Infecties en geheugenverlies bij
Alzheimerpatiënten*
Uit deze studie blijkt dat het belangrijk is bij patiënten met de ziekte van Alzheimer bij gewone
infecties zoals verkoudheid, bacteriële maaginfectie en urineweginfectie om zo snel mogelijk deze infecties te bestrijden ter voorkoming van achteruitgang van de cognitieve functies. Tijdens een infectie blijken ontstekingsproteïnes de hersenen te beïnvloeden waardoor de cognitieve achteruitgang bij Alzheimerpatiënten twee keer sneller verloopt.
Alzheimer's Society Research Finds Link Between Infection And Memory Loss
People with Alzheimer's disease who develop an infection need to be treated as soon as possible to prevent it worsening their dementia, according to research conducted by Alzheimer's Society
The research found a link between common infections, such as a cold, stomach bug or urine infection and an increase in inflammation like reactions in the brain which led to an increased rate of cognitive decline.
Researchers at the University of Southampton investigated how inflammatory proteins released during an infection might affect the brain. Results showed that people who got an infection had twice the rate of cognitive decline as people without infections.
Dr Susanne Sorensen, Head of Research, Alzheimer's Society says,
'This study is an important step towards understanding the processes that occur during the onset of Alzheimer's disease. We know there might be a link between inflammatory processes and Alzheimer's but this is not yet fully understood. These findings are helping us to understand more about possible reasons for this link. More research is now needed to further this line of
investigation.
In the meantime it's important that older people, people with dementia and carers treat any infection seriously and seek medical help. Professionals treating people with Alzheimer's disease also have a responsibility to be vigilant in their efforts to treat infections in people with Alzheimer's disease early and
effectively.'
The study's author Dr Clive Holmes, MRCPsych, PhD, from the University of Southampton, says,
'One might guess that people with a more rapid rate of cognitive decline are more susceptible to infections or injury, but we found no evidence to suggest that people with more severe dementia were more likely to have infections or injuries at the beginning of the
study.
More research needs to be done to understand the role of tumour necrosis factor-alpha, but it's possible that finding a way to reduce these levels could be beneficial for people with Alzheimer's
disease.'
Research reference: 'Systemic inflammation and disease progression in Alzheimer disease' Clive Holmes, C. Cunnigham, E.Zotova, J. Woolford, C. Dean, S. Kerr, D. Culliford, V.H. Perry. The study involved 300 people with mild to severe Alzheimer's disease.
Source
Alzheimer's Society (Oktober
2009)
