Alzheimer's may be linked to better hygiene, say scientists

[ellenrr]

Reduced contact with infectious agents might stall development of key elements of immune system, researchers suggest.

Improvements in hygiene could partly explain increased rates of Alzheimer's disease seen in many developed countries, according to research into the link between infections and the condition.

The researchers studied the prevalence of the neurodegenerative disease across 192 countries and compared it with the diversity of microbes in those places.

Taking into account differences in birth rate, life expectancy and age structure in their study, the scientists found that levels of sanitation, infectious disease and urbanisation accounted for 33%, 36% and 28% respectively of the discrepancies seen in Alzheimer's rates between countries.


http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/sep/04/alzheimers-disease-link-hygiene

[Warpy]

1. Then kids brought up by helicopter parents who boil their toys

are going to be sunk!

Toddlers are meant to pick nasty things off the ground and stick them in their mouths. They're not trying to freak Mommy out with that cigar butt, they're programming their immune systems with as many antigens as possible in as short a time as possible. Pedialyte and antibiotics help them live through it.

That's one reason I have to laugh at anti vaxers who piss and moan about kids being exposed to six or so antigens in a session. They get 100 times that many off that quarter they found in a parking lot.

[mopinko]

2. phew

[MineralMan]

3. Another post hoc ergo propter hoc

logic error. And the science writer for the Guardian missed the boat in attempting to interpret this possible connection.

All as usual. Critical thinking is deficient. Here's the deal: In the first place, the people currently experiencing Alzheimers are old enough that none of the extraordinary obsession with cleanliness existed when they were children or even adults. That did not develop until recently. The baby boomers and their aging parents lived in a time when that wasn't part of normal people's lives.

I think this is almost certainly a false association that forgets that correlation does not mean causation. No doubt the researchers know that, but the science writer apparently does not or is ignoring it.


Woo.

[ellenrr]

4. gosh it's great to have you tell us here's the deal. what you missed

is the very important "may" in the title. What you also missed is the role of inflammation in many conditions, only recently realized in alzheimer's. And the role of the immune system.
but that's ok i'll certainly be on the look-out to see "what the the deal is", according to you. Such certainty that you know all about alzheimer's is certainly refreshing.

[MineralMan]

5. You have my opinion. You do not have to agree with it.

How's that?

[ellenrr]

6. If you had a parent or loved one w/Alzheimer's you might not be so cavalier

Thousands of researchers are working to find approaches to this plague. Many people who do have loved ones with this terrible condition are grateful to read about the ideas that are circulating.

[MineralMan]

7. And why do you assume that I do not.

Of course it needs to be solved. Of course it needs to be understood. I completely support research into its causes and a search for some sort of treatment for it.

My problem is with the reporting of that research. It is execrable. My problem is also with false hope presented by those reports. Much progress is being made, but there are no answers yet about causation or effective treatment.

News stories that are inaccurate are a disservice. This was such a story.

Note: What I write here is my opinion. I state that in my signature line. You might disagree with my opinion. That's fine, but please do not make assumptions about my experience with Alzheimers, OK? You do not know me, my situation, or much of anything else about me. Thanks.