Scientists at Massachusetts General Hospital have found that the BCG vaccine reduces the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. The study was published in JAMA Network Open.
Previously, other studies have identified a possible link between the BCG vaccine and a lower risk of dementia. However, previous studies were limited by sample size and analytical methods. To conduct a more robust study, the researchers followed 6,467 people for 15 years after they were diagnosed with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. One of the treatment methods in this disease is immunotherapy with BCG vaccine, which is a vaccine against tuberculosis from a live attenuated tubercle bacillus.
The group included 3388 patients treated with BCG vaccine, as well as 3079 patients who served as the control group.
In the follow-up, 202 patients in the BCG vaccine group and 262 patients in the control group developed Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia. BCG vaccine treatment was associated with a 20% reduction in the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia. The protective effect was higher in patients aged 70 years and older.
In addition, 751 patients in the BCG vaccine group and 973 patients in the control group died during follow-up. Therefore, treatment with the BCG vaccine has been associated with a 25% reduction in the risk of death.
The scientists noted that their study only showed the existence of an association, but not a causal one. More research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms by which BCG modifies the immune system and reduces the risk of dementia.
Source: Gazeta
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