Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40944945›Full record

ArticleVirulence2025

Exploring the role of multi-pathogen infections in Alzheimer's disease: A case-control study.

Victor Garcia-Bustos, Marta Dafne Cabanero-Navalon, Carmen Lloret-Sos, MariaDolores Gómez, Miguel Baquero, Santos Ibanez-Barcelo, Javier Grimaldos, Consuelo Cháfer-Pericás

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Virulence, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Victor Garcia-BustosSevere Infection Research Group, Health Research Institute La Fe, Valencia, Spain.ORCID 0000-0002-1785-258X
Marta Dafne Cabanero-NavalonDepartment of Internal Medicine, University and Polytechnic Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Spain.ORCID 0000-0002-1447-9214
Carmen Lloret-SosDepartment of Microbiology, University and Polytechnic Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Spain.
MariaDolores GómezSevere Infection Research Group, Health Research Institute La Fe, Valencia, Spain.
Miguel BaqueroAlzheimer's Disease Research Group, Health Research Institute La Fe, Valencia, Spain.
Santos Ibanez-BarceloChronic diseases and HIV infection Research Group, Health Research Institute La Fe, Valencia, Spain.
Javier GrimaldosChronic diseases and HIV infection Research Group, Health Research Institute La Fe, Valencia, Spain.
Consuelo Cháfer-PericásAlzheimer's Disease Research Group, Health Research Institute La Fe, Valencia, Spain.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAlzheimer's disease (AD) is a leading cause of dementia. Following the discovery of the amyloid's antimicrobial properties, research has focused on infectious agents as potential contributors. This study investigates the role of multi-pathogen infections in AD by analyzing serological and molecular microbiologic markers in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

methodsA unicentric case-control study was conducted in AD patients (n=44) and healthy controls (n=35) in a Spanish reference cognitive disorders unit. Serum and CSF samples were analyzed using chemiluminescence immunoassay and ELISA for several pathogens. Molecular detection was performed through nucleic acid amplification. Multivariable logistic regression with bootstrap validation identified independent predictors of AD.

resultsSeropositivity for HCMV and Coxiella burnetii was significantly more frequent in AD patients, with C. burnetii linked to rapid progression. No microbial DNA was detected in CSF. Age (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.17-2.03), HCMV (OR 20.02, 95% CI 2.64-183.38), and Chlamydia pneumoniae (OR 8.60, 95% CI 0.96-96.57) seropositivity were independent predictors of AD in the adjusted logit model, with an AUC of 0.79 after bootstrap validation. Wide confidence intervals indicate uncertainty in the exact strength of association. Triple-positive patients (HCMV, C. pneumoniae, C. burnetii) showed faster progression, poorer neuropsychological performance, and impaired CSF biomarkers, including lower A40/A42 ratios and higher neurofilament light levels.

conclusionsLatent infections with HCMV, C. pneumoniae, and C. burnetii may contribute to AD pathophysiology, possibly through systemic or immune-mediated mechanisms. Further studies are needed to replicate these findings and clarify the role of infectious burden in AD.

Indexed as

Alzheimer DiseaseCoinfectionAgedAged, 80 and overBiomarkersCase-Control StudiesChlamydophila pneumoniaeCoxiella burnetiiCytomegalovirusCytomegalovirus InfectionsFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedQ FeverSpainBiomarkersAlzheimer’s diseaseChlamydia pneumoniaeCoxiella burnetiicytomegalovirusneuroinflammation

Identifiers

PMID40944945
PMCPMC12452477

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.