Alzheimer's "Germ Theory" Gaining Traction, Reports Contagion, newsmagazine on infectious disease

NAPLES, Fla., Oct. 2, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on its interview with Dr. Leslie Norins, CEO of Alzheimer's Germ Quest, Inc., Contagion, a newsmagazine for infectious disease specialists indicated the "germ theory" of Alzheimer's disease causation was gaining traction.

In the interview, Dr. Norins, who has both an M.D. and a Ph.D., stated that in his review of the research literature on Alzheimer's disease he had noted many items which reminded him of certain atypical infectious diseases. Yet these clues had never been thoroughly investigated.

He also said that there were voids in pertinent data. For example, there had never been formal therapeutic trials of FDA-approved anti-infection drugs, such as antibiotics and antiviral agents, against Alzheimer's disease. Also missing were longitudinal tests for serum antibodies against a number of infectious organisms which can invade the nervous system.

So to stimulate research on possible infectious agents he launched Alzheimer's Germ Quest, Inc., which sponsors a $1 million challenge award for the scientist who provides persuasive evidence a "germ" is the root cause of Alzheimer's.

He attributed the paucity of "infectious agent" investigations to the fact that research funders had for years been allocating most of their annual millions of dollars of grant monies to studies of amyloid plaques and tau protein tangles, which were long favored as the culprits in Alzheimer's.

But with no cause or cure for Alzheimer's disease after decades of investigation and billions of dollars in funding for amyloid-tau, Dr. Norins said he became haunted by the fairy tale "The Emperor's New Clothes". "Could it be that the 'Alzheimer's amyloid-tau emperor' is not really wearing any clothes?"

He added that establishment circles have reacted coolly, and with "studied avoidance", to the germ quest project. He felt the implied message was "Let's hope that skunk leaves the party before he stinks it up for everybody receiving millions of dollars in amyloid-tau grants and the many jobs this provides for large numbers of administrators and advocates."

The rationale for believing a germ might be the trigger of Alzheimer's disease is described in Dr. Norins' white paper and a video.

Alzheimer's Germ Quest, Inc. is a public benefit corporation headquartered in Naples, Florida. It seeks to accelerate and deepen research into the possibility infectious agents cause Alzheimer's disease. It does not seek or accept donations.

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SOURCE Alzheimer's Germ Quest, Inc.