New thesis: Can infections affect brain diseases?

What is the thesis about?

The thesis focuses on the role of infections in the development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly multiple sclerosis (MS) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It explores how infections, both before and after diagnosis, influence disease risk, severity, and survival. Using large-scale population and clinical data from Sweden and the UK, the thesis examines whether infections act as triggers or modifiers of disease processes, and how they interact with treatments in shaping patient outcomes.

Can you tell us about some interesting results?

We found that individuals with MS, Alzheimer’s, or Parkinson’s disease had an increased risk of infections both before and after diagnosis, suggesting early immune vulnerability. Among MS patients, disease worsening following infection was mainly observed in those with progressive MS or those receiving milder therapies. For ALS, a history of hospital-treated infections as well as pathogen seropositivity was associated with higher disease risk and more severe clinical presentations.

What further research is needed in this area?

Future research should clarify the biological mechanisms linking infections and neurodegeneration. For example, we need to understand whether infections directly contribute to neuroinflammation or simply reflect an early vulnerability of the nervous system. It will also be important to explore whether preventing or managing infections can slow disease progression or improve survival in patients with MS and ALS. Finally, integrating molecular data from blood and cerebrospinal fluid with long-term epidemiological follow-up may help identify infection-related biomarkers and potential targets for new therapies.

Link: Infections in the risk and prognosis of multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis