Infections may lead to faster memory loss in Alzheimer's disease

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This was a fairly small study of 222 people with Alzheimers (with an average age of 83), who were studied 3 times over 6 months. The study found that people who had respiratory, gastrointestinal or other infections or even bumps and bruises from a fall were more likely to have high blood levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, a protein involved in the inflammatory process.
Of these participants a total of 110 people experienced an infection or injury that led to inflammation during the study. Those people experienced memory loss that was at twice the rate of those who did not have infections or injuries.
Importantly there was no evidence to suggest that there was an increase incidence in infection due to having Alzheimers.
Whilst these results are very important and statistically significant, as the study is only small, it will be necessary to repeat/carry out further research that replicates the finding of this study. The implications are that finding a means tocontrol and reduce tumor necrosis factor-α levels which help to preserve memory for longer and provide suffers & their families with a better quality of life, which is to be highly welcomed.