The BCG vaccine could be a game-changer in Alzheimer's and dementia protection
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If it weren't enough that the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine has been working miracles for over 80 years in combating tuberculosis, brace yourself for yet another delightful piece of news. According to recent studies, the BCG vaccine is now showing promise in reducing the risk of Alzheimer's disease and other dementia-related illnesses. Intrigued? Well, you should be!
In the 1970s, the BCG vaccine made headlines after being discovered to be a highly effective immunotherapy treatment for early-stage bladder cancers. Fast forward to today, and the vaccine is considered one of the standard therapies for the disease, given directly into the bladder. Could the merits of this extraordinary treatment go beyond its current therapeutic applications?
Enter the most recent findings to hit the medical newsstand. Research has shown that people who receive BCG therapy for bladder cancer appear to have a reduced risk of developing dementia. The implications of this discovery could be ground-breaking.
A study published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association documented this fascinating correlation. Dr Emer MacSweeney, CEO and consultant neuroradiologist at Re:Cognition Health, said in an interview with Medical News Today, 'This is a really interesting study and encouraging approach to an additional potential treatment mechanism for dementia.'
Researchers found that, among older individuals with bladder cancer, those who had received the BCG vaccination exhibited a lower rate and risk of dementia. Dr Heather Snyder, PhD, vice president of medical and scientific relations at the Alzheimer's Association, which funded the study, explained, 'The rationale is this vaccine, which induces innate immune training, may help reduce brain inflammation — a driving contributor to Alzheimer’s.'
The study followed 6,467 individuals over 50 diagnosed with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. It was observed that those who underwent BCG therapy had a 20% lower risk of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, with the most significant difference in people aged 70 years or over.
Nonetheless, while the association between the BCG vaccine and reduced dementia risk is extremely promising, we must stress that it does not yet prove a causal link. Dr David Merrill, PhD, a geriatric psychiatrist and director of the Pacific Neuroscience Institute's Pacific Brain Health Center in Santa Monica, California, told Medical News Today, 'If we can better understand which patients will have their brains protected from Alzheimer’s through BCG vaccination, then we can target delivering the vaccine to those susceptible individuals.'
Some limitations of the study have been mentioned, including the possibility that the use of diagnostic codes and medications for dementia identification could cause an underestimation of dementia incidence. Also, the research was primarily conducted among white male individuals, prompting a need for further investigation into diverse populations. As Dr Heather Snyder noted, 'Limitations include the study’s design, which can only demonstrate an association, not causation.’
Experts believe that BCG vaccination might train the immune system to respond to threats in a more controlled manner, reducing inflammation and oxidative stress that contribute to dementia development.
The issue is compounded by the rising prevalence of dementia-related illnesses, particularly among ageing populations. Between 2000 and 2017, the number of global dementia cases grew by 93%, with prevalence rising to 158 million. This astounding rate of growth is expected to continue due to longer life expectancy, with one in every four people over the age of 75 facing the condition by 2030.
As the statistics become increasingly concerning, the need for preventative measures has never been more pertinent. With mounting responsibility resting on the medical community, research into treatments like the BCG vaccine could be of immense value in forging a pathway to widespread prevention and treatment efforts for the potentially disastrous condition.
Despite the need for further research, these findings mark promising progress towards effective dementia prevention and treatment. The medical community is eagerly awaiting the results of well-designed interventional trials.
With any luck, this incredible treatment could soon become a significant instrument in the quest for Alzheimer's and dementia prevention and management. Yet another chapter in the remarkable history of the BCG vaccine!
Members, how do you interpret this unfolding chapter and its potential impact on Alzheimer's and dementia prevention and management? Please share your thoughts and perspectives in the comments section below.
In the 1970s, the BCG vaccine made headlines after being discovered to be a highly effective immunotherapy treatment for early-stage bladder cancers. Fast forward to today, and the vaccine is considered one of the standard therapies for the disease, given directly into the bladder. Could the merits of this extraordinary treatment go beyond its current therapeutic applications?
In Perth, Australia, on April 20, 2020, vials of the BCG vaccine were observed in the trial clinic at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. Photo by MART PRODUCTION.
Enter the most recent findings to hit the medical newsstand. Research has shown that people who receive BCG therapy for bladder cancer appear to have a reduced risk of developing dementia. The implications of this discovery could be ground-breaking.
A study published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association documented this fascinating correlation. Dr Emer MacSweeney, CEO and consultant neuroradiologist at Re:Cognition Health, said in an interview with Medical News Today, 'This is a really interesting study and encouraging approach to an additional potential treatment mechanism for dementia.'
Researchers found that, among older individuals with bladder cancer, those who had received the BCG vaccination exhibited a lower rate and risk of dementia. Dr Heather Snyder, PhD, vice president of medical and scientific relations at the Alzheimer's Association, which funded the study, explained, 'The rationale is this vaccine, which induces innate immune training, may help reduce brain inflammation — a driving contributor to Alzheimer’s.'
The study followed 6,467 individuals over 50 diagnosed with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. It was observed that those who underwent BCG therapy had a 20% lower risk of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, with the most significant difference in people aged 70 years or over.
Nonetheless, while the association between the BCG vaccine and reduced dementia risk is extremely promising, we must stress that it does not yet prove a causal link. Dr David Merrill, PhD, a geriatric psychiatrist and director of the Pacific Neuroscience Institute's Pacific Brain Health Center in Santa Monica, California, told Medical News Today, 'If we can better understand which patients will have their brains protected from Alzheimer’s through BCG vaccination, then we can target delivering the vaccine to those susceptible individuals.'
Some limitations of the study have been mentioned, including the possibility that the use of diagnostic codes and medications for dementia identification could cause an underestimation of dementia incidence. Also, the research was primarily conducted among white male individuals, prompting a need for further investigation into diverse populations. As Dr Heather Snyder noted, 'Limitations include the study’s design, which can only demonstrate an association, not causation.’
Experts believe that BCG vaccination might train the immune system to respond to threats in a more controlled manner, reducing inflammation and oxidative stress that contribute to dementia development.
The Rising Marketplace for Alzheimer's and Dementia Prevention
It may come as no surprise that Alzheimer's disease and related dementias are estimated to cost the global economy trillions of dollars each year. According to a 2020 report published by the World Health Organisation, the global cost of caring for individuals with dementia is expected to amount to an estimated $2 trillion by the year 2030.The issue is compounded by the rising prevalence of dementia-related illnesses, particularly among ageing populations. Between 2000 and 2017, the number of global dementia cases grew by 93%, with prevalence rising to 158 million. This astounding rate of growth is expected to continue due to longer life expectancy, with one in every four people over the age of 75 facing the condition by 2030.
As the statistics become increasingly concerning, the need for preventative measures has never been more pertinent. With mounting responsibility resting on the medical community, research into treatments like the BCG vaccine could be of immense value in forging a pathway to widespread prevention and treatment efforts for the potentially disastrous condition.
With any luck, this incredible treatment could soon become a significant instrument in the quest for Alzheimer's and dementia prevention and management. Yet another chapter in the remarkable history of the BCG vaccine!
Members, how do you interpret this unfolding chapter and its potential impact on Alzheimer's and dementia prevention and management? Please share your thoughts and perspectives in the comments section below.
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