Brain inflammation increases Alzheimer's risk

Those who experience chronic inflammation in the brain could be predisposed to develop Alzheimer's disease.

This is the finding of a new study published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation, which is one of the first to pin down the role of chronic inflammation in cognitive decline.

The discovery supports existing research that suggests nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs can help people in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, especially with prolonged treatment.

Researchers made the observation when investigating the long-term impact of immune system challenges on the development of Alzheimer's disease in an animal study.

It was found that a single infection prior to birth is enough to create long-term neurological changes and memory problems during later life.

Mice were observed to have a persistent increase in inflammatory cytokines, amyloid precursor protein and an altered cellular localisation of Tau.

If inflammation was repeated during adulthood, cognitive effects were exacerbated further.

The discovery follows the release of another study that shows a link between brain insulin resistance and the worsening of Alzheimer's disease.

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