Emerging Evidence of a Brain Microbiome: Implications for Neurodegenerative Diseases
Until recently, the brain was considered sterile. However, recent studies reveal a different picture:
"Known human pathogens including Staphylococcus and Streptococcus bacteria, as well as Cryptococcus and Candida fungi, are overrepresented in the brains of Alzheimer's patients." (Source: #SpektrumderWissenschaft, 2025)
Researchers such as David C. Rubinsztein, Douglas Kell, and Christopher N. Lahthe now hypothesize that beta-amyloid deposits may not be the cause of neurodegeneration, but rather an immune response to microbial invasion.
Similarly, alpha-synuclein - long associated with Parkinson's disease - demonstrates antimicrobial properties. A 2023 study led by Jean-Christophe Lathe analyzed genetic material from 79 postmortem brain samples, detecting evidence of up to 100,000 different microbial species per sample, many originating from the gut microbiome.
Further supporting this paradigm, microbes were identified in healthy fish brains (Vernoosfaderani & Salinas, 2024), raising new biological questions.
Key implications:
👉 The blood-brain barrier appears more permeable than previously believed
👉 Immunosenescence in aging may facilitate microbial invasion
👉 Vaccinations (e.g., against HSV-1) correlate with reduced dementia risk (Taiwan study)
👉 The brain may harbor a transient but functionally relevant microbiome
These findings could enable novel therapeutic approaches:
A microbial-informed understanding of neurology - potentially transforming diagnostics, prevention, and personalized interventions for neurodegenerative diseases.
📚 Source: Spektrum.de (2025).
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