It’s Time to Find the “Alzheimer’s Germ”
Executive Summary
Alzheimer’s disease, the sixth-biggest cause of death in the U.S., continues to increase alarmingly, with 303 dying per day. Despite billions of dollars spent on research over decades, its root cause is still unknown. So far, there is no simple diagnostic test, cure, or preventive.
Most research efforts, and monies, so far have been focused on two suspicious items found in patients’ brains, amyloid plaques and protein tangles. However, few clinically helpful results have yet been obtained.
An intense review of the scientific literature revealed that many aspects of Alzheimer’s disease resemble patterns of infections seen with known bacteria, viruses, fungi or prions. These include presence of microbes within the brain, inflammation, and positive effects of antibiotics. Also, transmission of Alzheimer’s may occur within households and in the neurosurgical operating room. But these and other intriguing leads have never been followed up in depth.
So far, with minor exceptions, neither scientists nor government agencies expert in known infectious diseases and epidemics have been significantly involved in Alzheimer’s research.
In 2016, 33 prominent Alzheimer’s researchers signed an editorial pleading for increased funding and priority for further investigations of an infectious cause of the disease. However, despite huge sums being appropriated for research, there has been little realignment of grant priorities to date, and current amounts devoted to possible infectious causes of Alzheimer’s are paltry.
Dr. Leslie Norins asserts that there is just one germ, known or yet to be discovered, that is the root cause of Alzheimer’s. He urges the major funders of research to promptly increase or re-prioritize their grant allotments to thoroughly search for this.
To jump-start the necessary studies, Alzheimer’s Germ Quest, Inc, is offering a $1 million challenge award for the scientist who—before 2021—provides persuasive proof of the identity and role of the theorized germ.
This is the Executive Summary. To read the full paper, click here.