Researchers Reveal Breakthrough in Alzheimer’s Disease and the Shocking Place It Might Originate in Your Body

For decades, researchers have tirelessly worked to find the cause and cure for Alzheimer's, yet both are largely unknown. Some hypothesize its origins are related to genetics, environment, or lifestyle factors. More recently, researchers are linking specific mouth bacteria to fluctuations in brain function tied to the disease. 

A 2019 study, published in Porphyromonas gingivalis—suggested the pathogen responsible for gum disease may be the culprit behind Alzheimer's. 

Bacteria in the gut has long been thought of as a possible cause for dementia and Alzheimer's, too.

A separate Florida State University study found that Klebsiella pneumoniae—the bacteria notorious for causing pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and bloodstream infections—can move from the gut into the bloodstream and eventually into the brain.

"Infectious agents have been implicated in the development and progression of Alzheimer's disease before, but the evidence of causation hasn't been convincing," first author of the Porphyromonas gingivalis study, Stephen Dominy, said in a statement.

Related: Genetics Aren't the Biggest Factor in Long Life, Study Finds

However, this is the first time researchers have solid evidence that this specific type of bacteria—P. gingivalis—may be the cause of this progressive and irreversible brain disorder. 

Although it's not the first time this was hypothesized, this study is the first time researchers looked at the presence of gingipains within the brains of diseased patients. Even more, the patients themselves were never even diagnosed with Alzheimer's. 

"Our identification of gingipain antigens in the brains of individuals with AD and also with AD pathology but no diagnosis of dementia argues that brain infection with P. gingivalis is not a result of poor dental care following the onset of dementia or a consequence of late-stage disease, but is an early event that can explain the pathology found in middle-aged individuals before cognitive decline," the authors explained.

While this isn't a one-size-fits-all answer to what causes Alzheimer's, it's a step in the right direction to finding the reasoning behind this life-altering disease.