Eye-Window to Alzheimer's: Pneumonia Bacterium Linked to Neurodegeneration

A Cedars-Sinai study shows Chlamydia pneumoniae can invade the retina and brain, triggering inflammation, nerve cell loss, and amyloid-beta buildup linked to Alzheimer's; higher bacterial levels correlate with worse cognition, especially in APOE4 carriers. The research suggests chronic infection and inflammation could drive Alzheimer's, and the retina might serve as a noninvasive window for early detection and new treatments targeting infection and inflammation.