Candida fungus can cause symptoms similar to those of Alzheimer’s. Pexels
Irritation, white discharge, and itching in the vagina. You probably already know these are symptoms of candidiasis— caused by the fungus Candida albicans— a problem most women face at least once in their life.
However, a recent study pointed out new symptoms linked to the fungus. These are memory problems and brain abnormalities similar to the characteristics of Alzheimer’s disease.
The research, conducted on mice at Baylor College of Medicine in the United States and published in Nature Communications, showed that the fungus, which naturally grows in the gut, mouth, and vagina, can enter the brain, cause inflammation, and damage memory. This leads to the formation of abnormal brain structures resembling amyloid plaques—a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.
Moreover, the scientists observed that the infected mice had impaired spatial memory, unlike those without the fungus. However, when the infection cleared, memory returned to normal.
“The results led us to consider the possibility that, in some cases, fungi could also be involved in the development of chronic neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and multiple sclerosis. We are currently exploring this possibility,” explained David B. Corry, one of the study’s authors.
