Frequent illnesses may speed up brain aging and elevate the risk of cognitive decline or dementia, as per a new study on mice conducted by researchers from Tulane University School of Medicine.
This research marks the first to examine the long-term effects of repeated, intermittent infections on brain function and health.
The Research
Elizabeth Engler-Chiurazzi, an assistant professor of neurosurgery at Tulane University School of Medicine, led the study.
The team examined aging male mice and found that frequent bouts of moderate inflammation, similar to those caused by flu or common colds, resulted in cognitive impairment and disrupted neuron communication.
Engler-Chiurazzi noted that they were investigating if infection frequency could explain the varying rates of dementia observed among populations.
The mice used in the study were approaching middle age with intact cognitive abilities, but exposure to intermittent inflammation led to diminished memory and poorer neuron function.
Key Findings
Although humans often experience infections and inflammation at significantly higher rates than lab mice, the cognitive changes in humans might be even more substantial given the observed impairments in mice after just five inflammatory treatments.
Engler-Chiurazzi expressed surprise at the impairments, noting that the effects were subtle, but the cumulative effects could negatively impact the aging human brain.
These findings may have critical implications for how infections are managed among the elderly and those at risk for dementia, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing research on the long-term effects of the illness.
Future Work
Further research is needed to understand why and how infections impact the brain and to explore ways to mitigate these effects.
Engler-Chiurazzi hopes future studies will investigate whether populations more susceptible to health disparities bear a higher burden of neurological effects.
The most significant takeaway from the research is the importance of staying healthy and avoiding infections, Engler-Chiurazzi emphasizes.
Researchers from West Virginia University and the National Institutes of Occupational Safety and Health also contributed to the study.
If you care about dementia, please read studies about low choline intake linked to higher dementia risk, and how eating nuts can affect your cognitive ability.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies that blueberry supplements may prevent cognitive decline, and results showing higher magnesium intake could help benefit brain health.
The study was published in Brain, Behavior and Immunity.
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