People in developed countries may be at greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease due to less exposure to viruses, bacteria and other microorganisms that cause antigenic stimulation, the researchers believe.
This can lead to the development of a weaker immune system and a tendency to inflammation increasing the risk of dementia, according to the journal Evolution, Medicine and Public Health.
Given that the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease is much higher in more urbanized countries, scientists have argued that a sterile environment may contribute to its development.
Analyzing data from the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Burden of Disease report on 192 countries, researchers found a strong correlation between hygiene levels and the number of people with dementia. The relationship was clear after taking into account the average life expectancy of the inhabitants.
The hygienic hypothesis that suggests a link between a sterile environment and a higher risk of developing certain allergies and autoimmune diseases is well established. We believe Alzheimer’s should also be on this list, says study author Dr Molly Fox from the University of Cambridge (UK).
Not coming into contact with friendly microbes can lead to an insufficient number of white blood cells, especially T cells, which protect the body against infections and inflammation in the brain that is a sign of dementia.
Countries with a low incidence of infectious diseases, such as Switzerland and Iceland, had 12 percent. a higher proportion of people with Alzheimer’s disease than China or India, where infectious diseases are common. In countries where everyone had access to clean drinking water, the incidence of Alzheimer’s was 9 percent. higher than in countries where less than half of the population is provided with clean water, such as Kenya and Cambodia. In countries where three-quarters of the population lived in urban areas, the incidence of Alzheimer’s was 10%. higher than in countries where urban areas were inhabited by less than a tenth of the population (e.g. Bangladesh or India). (PAP)
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