Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease. It
affects the parts of the brain that control thoughts, memory, and language. The
pathogenesis of AD involves the aggregation and the formation of
neurofibrillary tangles. Recent Studies revealed that fungal infections are
associated with various neurological diseases. The fungal content was detected
in different brain regions like the external frontal cortex, hippocampus,
cerebellar region, and choroid plexus. Fungal infections were observed in the blood
vessels of Alzheimer’s disease patients. The fungal infection may slowly
undergo invasion in the CNS if remains untreated. The invasion can lead to the
debilitating symptoms of AD. A recent study uncovered the fungus entry into the
Blood Brain Barrier and the generation of toxic proteins associated with
Alzheimer’s disease. Fungus can produce Amyloid proteins which are the buildup
proteins in AD. Evidence has proved that growing fungal content can trigger
inflammation and immune responses and alleviate the progression of the disease.
In AD various fungal species like Candida Albicans, malasezzia, Alterenia,
botrytis, etc were observed in the autopsied brain of the patient. Various
anti-fungal antibiotics like polyenes and azoles are effective in the treatment
of fungal infections. Yet they are therapeutic regimens available for treating
fungal content in neurological disorders they are not producing rational
actions. Therapeutic alternatives and accurate fungal diagnostic approaches
should be developed to treat and diagnose fungal infections in Alzheimer’s
disease patients. The following Chapter explores the commonly involved fungal
species associated with AD, limitations in their diagnosis, and its
Pharmacological treatment.
Author
(s) Details
Kondumahanti V. N.
Lakshmi
Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur, India.
SK. Abdul Rahaman
Galgotias University, Greater Noida, India.
Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/dhrni/v7/2300
