Alzheimer’s Cause Found!?
We all know how devastating a virus can be.
COVID-19 showed us that firsthand.
Still, most of the time, your body gets rid of the unwelcome bug on its own.
But over the past few years, research has revealed that viruses can have long-term consequences on your health. And those damages can hang around long after you feel like you’re back to normal.
In one of the largest studies on the topic to date, viruses were connected to SIX deadly brain diseases.
We have no cure—and few treatment options—for many life-altering and deadly brain diseases.
The truth is, we know very little about them.
But finding the CAUSE of these conditions will get us MUCH closer to treating and preventing them.
That’s why the findings of a recent study could be a game changer. Researchers identified a strong association between neurodegenerative disorders and common viruses like the flu.
Scientists from the National Institutes of Health combed through databases that included hundreds of thousands medical records.
After a LOT of data crunching, a pattern emerged. They identified viral links to six of the most troubling neurodegenerative diseases:
- Alzheimer’s
- Parkinson’s
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease)
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Dementia
- Vascular dementia
Overall, influenza that had progressed to pneumonia was MOST commonly linked with neurodegenerative diseases, with connections to all but MS.
The condition most often tied to viral infections was dementia.
The strongest connection by far was a 31-fold increased risk of Alzheimer’s in folks who had viral encephalitis.
Interestingly, most of the connections involved viruses that can invade the central nervous system. These include certain strains of influenza, herpes simplex, and herpes zoster.
This was a “data mining” type study. That’s when researchers attempt to gain insight into something that continues to puzzle them.
And while these findings don’t prove cause and effect, they DO confirm alarming associations that previous studies have also identified.
For example, earlier studies found connections between influenza and Parkinson’s and HPV and dementia.
And a study that collected blood tests from 10 million soldiers found that it’s virtually impossible to develop multiple sclerosis unless you’ve been infected with the Epstein-Barr virus.
This is just one more reason to keep your immune system firing on all cylinders.
Support yours with supplements like vitamins C and D, zinc, and a probiotic. And remember to wash your hands frequently and practice social distancing in crowded places.
P.S. Including certain key foods in your daily diet can help build a stronger immune system. CLICK HERE to discover 5 immune-boosting foods that pack a huge health punch.
SOURCE:
“Virus exposure and neurodegenerative disease risk across national biobanks,” Neuron, Published: January 19, 2023, DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2022.12.029
