Explicating the relationship between Infections and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) Etiology, especially Late-onset AD (LOAD).

Book excerpt: Explicating the relationship between Infections and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) Etiology, especially Late-onset AD (LOAD). Inflammation is a part of the first line of defense of the body against invasive pathogens and plays a crucial role in tissue regeneration and repair. A proper inflammatory response ensures the suitable resolution of inflammation and elimination of harmful stimuli, but when the inflammatory reactions are inappropriate it can lead to damage of the surrounding normal cells. The relationship between infections and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) etiology, especially late-onset AD (LOAD) has been continuously debated over the past three decades. Among bacteria special attention is focused on spirochetes family and on periodontal pathogens such as Porphyromonas gingivalis or Treponema denticola that could cause chronic periodontitis and possibly contribute to the clinical onset of AD. Emerging evidence supports the hypothesis of the role of neurotropic viruses from the Herpesviridae family, especially Human herpesvirus 1 (HHV-1), Cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Human herpesvirus 2 (HHV-2), in AD neuropathology. Recent investigations also indicate the association between Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and dementia. An attempt has been made to discuss whether infections could be a causative factor that promotes the progression of AD along with Preventive and therapeutic approaches to AD in the context of an infectious etiology of the disease and summarize recent investigations associating infectious agents and chronic inflammation with AD. …Dr. H. K. Saboowala. M.B.(Bom) .M.R.S.H.(London)