Colds and Flu May Hasten Mental Decline

Infection with common viruses such as influenza or rhinoviruses that cause colds may be associated with more rapid memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease. A study of people who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease found that those who had respiratory infections had higher levels of inflammation, as measured by a specific protein in the blood called TNF-alpha. They also suffered cognitive decline at nearly twice the rate as people without infections.
Even injuries from falls were linked to higher levels of TNF-alpha, and that in turn to more rapid memory loss. People with low levels of TNF-alpha had no decline in mental function. Keeping the immune system healthy and lowering inflammation may be a way to benefit the brain as well as the heart and the rest of the body.

[Neurology, Sept. 8, 2009]