Study Uncovers Link Between Gut Infection and Alzheimer’s Disease
Cytomegalovirus is a type of herpes virus that most humans are exposed to in their lives. This virus is normally spread from one individual to another through bodily fluids but isn’t considered a sexually transmitted illness. Prior studies have determined that the virus may remain active in the gut, sometimes travelling to the brain through the vagus nerve. Once there, the virus can alter the immune system and contribute to changes linked to Alzheimer’s. One study found that brains of Alzheimer’s patients were likely to have CD83 microglia, with the researchers noting that antibodies found in the intestines of these…