BCG vaccine linked to changes in brain immunity and Alzheimer's biomarkers

06 Jul 20264 min read0 viewsVerified Feed

GIST (Key Takeaways)

The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine prevents severe forms of tuberculosis (TB) and is the world’s most widely used vaccine, as well as the oldest vaccine still in use. In recent years, researchers have become increasingly interested in its “off-target” effects , which may extend beyond protection against TB.
Previous research suggests that BCG may strengthen the body’s broader immune response, known as trained immunity . Most research has focused on immune changes in the bloodstream, while it remains unclear whether BCG can also influence immune cells within the central nervous system (CNS) .
Now, a small, year-long clinical study suggests the BCG vaccine may alter immune activity around the brain and change levels of a protein closely associated with Alzheimer’s disease in older adults without evidence of the condition. The findings, published in Communications Medicine , do not show that BCG prevents Alzheimer’s disease or slows its progression, but provide a possible biological explanation for previous studies linking BCG vaccination with a lower risk of developing the condition.