Dual Shot: Could the Tuberculosis Vaccine Reduce the Risk of Alzheimer's?

A recent study has shown that the 100-year-old tuberculosis vaccine known as the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine could have the power to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

The BCG vaccine offers multiple beneficial effects and is currently a recommended therapy for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

BCG Vaccine: Not Just Tuberculosis, Protects Against Alzheimer’s As Well

The findings, published in JAMA Network Open, revealed that treatment with the BCG vaccine was associated with a 20% lower risk of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

BCG Vaccine Immunity Against Tuberculosis More Lasting Than Earlier Believed
BCG vaccination protects from tuberculosis almost twice as longer than current estimates, underscoring the importance of early vaccination to prevent later disease.

‘Can the TB vaccine protect against Alzheimer’s as well? #tuberculosis #BCGvaccine #Alzheimer’s’

Tweet it Now

The protective association was more significant in patients aged 70 years or older and also reduced the risk of death.

Researchers from the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH), followed 6,467 individuals for up to 15 years after they were diagnosed with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

The group included 3,388 patients who underwent BCG vaccine treatment and 3,079 who served as controls, matched by age, sex, and medical comorbidities.

BCG Vaccine Helps Protect Elderly Against Respiratory Infections
Elderly people were protected against respiratory infections by the BCG vaccine, stated new study.

During the follow-up, 202 patients in the BCG vaccine group and 262 in the control group developed Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

The incidence was 8.8 per 1,000 person-years and 12.1 per 1,000 person-years in the respective groups.

The Relationship Between Dementia Diagnosis and Self-Harm
Dementia and self-harm: why it's crucial to support patients in the first year after diagnosis

In addition, 751 patients in the BCG vaccine group died while 973 people died in the control group. Thus, treatment with the BCG vaccine was also associated with a 25% lower risk of death.

BCG Vaccine Could be a Feasible Way to Prevent Alzheimer's Disease

"A vaccine like BCG, if proven effective, is a perfect example of a cost-effective, population-health based solution to a devastating illness like Alzheimer's disease," Marc Weinberg, an Instructor in Psychiatry at MGH.

"We are shifting our focus towards studying the potential benefits of BCG vaccination of older adults in Alzheimer's disease-related clinical trials," he added.

Nose-Picking: A Sneaky Way to Alzheimer's Disease?
A study in mice has revealed that bacteria can easily travel from the nose to the brain while nose-picking and could potentially cause symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.

If a causal link is found, it will be important to understand the mechanisms involved. Weinberg and his colleagues note that the BCG vaccine's effects on the immune system may play a role.

Reference:

Association of BCG Vaccine Treatment With Death and Dementia in Patients With Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer - (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37204792/)

Source-IANS