A study by Tulane University has revealed that frequent illness can accelerate brain aging and increase the risk of dementia or cognitive decline. The research, published in the journal Brain, Behavior and Immunity, used aging male mice and found that repeated, moderate inflammation from infections such as the common cold or flu led to impaired cognition and disrupted neuronal communication. These findings have important implications for the management of infections among the elderly and those at risk of dementia, highlighting the importance of maintaining good health to prevent infections. The study is the first to model repeated, intermittent infections in mice and examine the long-term consequences for brain function and health. While humans experience infections and inflammation at higher rates than laboratory mice, the cognitive change in humans may be more significant as impairments were observed in mice after only five intermittent inflammatory treatments. Going forward, more research is needed to understand why infections impact the brain and how to mitigate those effects.
