Do we have microbes in our brains? A theory that divides scientists
The possibility of a brain microbiome has scientists engaged in a discussion about the possible role of bacteria in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s
When Spain-based immunologist Irene Salinas, from the University of New Mexico in the United States, began searching for bacteria in the brains of healthy fish, it might have seemed like a futile task: every biology student knows that a strict filter keeps the brain free of microbes, and that breaking that sterility only leads to a potentially fatal infection. But Salinas found what she was looking for: her 2024 study supports the existence of a brain microbiome in fish. However, not all experts accept the validity of her results. The possibility of a brain microbiome keeps scientists engaged in a lively discussion with crucial ramifications toward a possible role for bacteria in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
