For years, scientists have tried to figure out for years that certain infections may affect brain health, especially in diseases like Alzheimer’s disease. Driven by these questions, they explored whether common respiratory bacteria Chlamydia pneumoniaa bacteria that usually causes lung infections may penetrate the brain and may play a role in dementia. Small damage caused by the nose, such as picking up from the nose, can also increase the risk by weakening the natural barrier, making it easier for bacteria to enter the brain.
Scientists led by Dr. Jenny Ekberg of Griffith University have carefully studied this. Their findings are shared in the journal Scientific Reports, a well-known publication with scientific discoveries. Team Discovery C. Pneumonia It can quickly enter the brain by hitchhiking along the nerves connecting the nose and the brain.
In tests of mice, scientists found alive C. Pneumonia Arrive to the brain and olfactory bulbs (an important odor processing area in the brain), shortly after being introduced through the nose. This quick journey stands out because bacteria manage it without appearing in the blood, a system that carries blood throughout the body. They also found amyloid clumps of amyloid that form plaques that are tied to Alzheimer’s and formed next to bacterial gatherings. The damage to the nose lining makes infections in nearby nerves worse, but does not seem to spread the brain further, suggesting a strong natural defense. The study highlights that nasal lining damage significantly improves the ability of bacteria to invade neural pathways, suggesting that daily actions that cause minor nasal damage may inadvertently increase the risk of infection.
Strangely, an important observation is that infection appears to be associated with processes associated with Alzheimer’s disease. “Chlamydia pneumoniae can infect and survive in support cells in the nervous system, called glial cells, which help protect and maintain nerve cells. This infection disrupts important genetic processes associated with Alzheimer’s disease,” explains Dr. Ekberg. These glial cells include olfactory support cells that help the sense of smell, Schwann cells that help the spread of nerve signals, astrocytes that provide nutrients to nerve cells, and microglia that function like brain immune cells. They seem to make the bacteria last longer than expected.
Dr. Ekberg and her team also noticed that infections may not only cause inflammation, which means swelling and irritation, but also trigger changes in the way genes and proteins behave in the brain. These changes may be associated with diseases that damage the brain over time. After several weeks of infection, they saw significant changes in the way important brain pathways work. The pathway is the route of signals passing through different parts of the brain. “Infection triggers a stress response inside the cell, which is how cells respond to threats, and the chemical imbalance that is often seen in the early stages of Alzheimer’s,” added Dr. Ekberg.
Obviously, this work emphasizes an important idea: some bacteria may be much earlier and faster than many people think. Although the study was conducted in mice, it reflects the findings of studies on the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, where signs of Clostridium pneumoniae have been detected. All in all, the results suggest that the nerves that connect the nose to the brain can be an unexpected but fragile infective entrance that can lead to potential brain disease.
Journal Reference
Chacko A., Delbaz A., Walkden H., Basu S., Armitage CW, Eindorf T., Trim LK, Miller E., West NP, St John JA, Beagley KW, Ekberg Jak, Ekberg Jak, “Pneumonia pneumonia can be through olive and trigactory and Trigainnal Synears and Trigine Syneary and Trigine Syres pinffect of Alzhe, Scientific Reports, 2022; 12:2759. doi:
About the Author
Dr. Jenny Eckerberg is a leading neuroscientist specializing in nerve regeneration, neurodegenerative diseases and microbial interactions with the nervous system. She holds a key research role at the Menzies Health Institute and the Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery in Queensland at Griffith University in Australia. Her work focuses on understanding how infections affect brain health, including groundbreaking research on how common bacteria can invade the brain through the nose. Dr. Ekberg’s research bridges cell neuroscience and clinical applications to find new strategies for treating diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. She is passionate about revealing hidden mechanisms that drive neurological diseases and often explores the potential risk of daily environmental exposure. Throughout his career, Dr. Eckerberg has made a significant contribution to promoting our understanding of nerve damage, repair and protection. Her work is recognized internationally and she actively directs the next generation of neuroscience and regenerative medicine researchers.
