Study Shows Potential for Alzheimer’s Transmission Between Humans

In a stunning discovery that challenges our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease, researchers have found compelling evidence that the debilitating condition may be transmissible between people under certain circumstances.

The study, published in the prestigious journal Nature Medicine, has sent shockwaves through the scientific community and raised important questions about the nature of this devastating illness.

Contaminated Growth Hormone Treatments Linked to Early-Onset Alzheimer’s

The findings emerged from a detailed investigation of eight patients who developed early-onset Alzheimer’s disease after receiving human growth hormone (hGH) treatments derived from cadavers. These treatments, which were administered between 1958 and 1985, were occasionally contaminated with amyloid-beta (Aβ) proteins, the sticky plaques associated with Alzheimer’s.

Astonishingly, the affected individuals, who ranged in age from 36 to 51 at the time of symptom onset, had no genetic predisposition or family history of the disease. This unusual cluster of cases prompted researchers to dig deeper, and what they uncovered was nothing short of remarkable.

Post-Mortem Brain Examinations Reveal Alzheimer’s Pathology

To confirm their suspicions, the scientists conducted post-mortem examinations of the patients’ brains. The results were staggering: all eight individuals exhibited the telltale signs of Alzheimer’s disease, including the presence of Aβ plaques and tau tangles, despite their relatively young ages.

This discovery marks the first direct evidence of human-to-human transmission of Alzheimer’s pathology, specifically through exposure to contaminated growth hormone preparations. While the findings are undoubtedly concerning, it’s crucial to put them into context.

No Evidence of Transmission Through Normal Contact or Medical Procedures

Before panic sets in, it’s essential to understand that the transmission of Alzheimer’s occurred under very specific circumstances. The patients in question received repeated injections of contaminated hGH over an extended period, a treatment that has long since been discontinued and replaced by synthetic alternatives.

The study’s authors are quick to emphasize that there is currently no evidence to suggest that Alzheimer’s can be transmitted through any other means, such as blood transfusions, surgical procedures, or everyday contact with affected individuals. The risk of contracting Alzheimer’s through these routes appears to be minimal based on the available data.

A Paradigm Shift in Alzheimer’s Research

While the study’s implications for the general public may be limited, its impact on the scientific community cannot be overstated. The discovery that Alzheimer’s pathology can be transmitted between humans under certain conditions represents a paradigm shift in our understanding of the disease.

This research opens up new avenues for investigation and raises important questions about the potential transmissibility of other protein misfolding disorders, such as Parkinson’s and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

As scientists continue to understand the complexities of Alzheimer’s, this study will undoubtedly serve as a catalyst for further exploration and, hopefully, the development of more effective treatments and preventative measures.

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Sources:
1. Purro, S. A., Farrow, M. A., Linehan, J., Nazari, T., Thomas, D. X., Chen, Z., … & Collinge, J. (2023). Iatrogenic Alzheimer’s disease in recipients of cadaveric pituitary-derived growth hormone. Nature Medicine, 1-8. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-023-02729-2