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 faced by most women at least once in their lives.
+ Recently, Miss underwent an explantation of prostheses after experiencing ‘Silicone Disease’ and is sharing her symptoms.
However, a recent study has pointed to new symptoms related to the fungus. It involves memory problems and brain abnormalities that resemble the characteristics of Alzheimer’s disease.
The research, conducted on mice at Baylor University School of Medicine in the United States and published in the journal Nature Communications, showed that the fungus that naturally grows in the intestines, mouth, and vagina can enter the brain, develop inflammation, and impair memory. This leads to the formation of abnormal structures in the brain that resemble amyloid plaques — a characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease.
Furthermore, the scientists observed that infected mice had a reduction in spatial memory, unlike those without the fungus. However, when the disease disappeared, the memory returned to normal.
“The results have 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. Currently, we are exploring this possibility,” explained David B. Corry, one of the authors of the study.
