The idea that infectious agents in the brain have a role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease (AD) was proposed nearly 30 years ago. However, this theory failed to gain substantial traction and was largely disregarded by the AD research community for many years. Several recent discoveries have reignited interest in the infectious theory of AD, culminating in a debate on the topic at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) in July 2019. In this Viewpoint article, experts who participated in the AAIC debate weigh up the evidence for and against the infectious theory of AD and suggest avenues for future research and drug development.

中文翻译：

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感染是否在阿尔茨海默病的发病机制中起作用？

近 30 年前提出了大脑中的传染因子在阿尔茨海默病 (AD) 的发病机制中起作用的想法。然而，这一理论未能获得实质性的支持，多年来一直被 AD 研究界所忽视。最近的几项发现重新点燃了人们对 AD 传染性理论的兴趣，最终在 2019 年 7 月的阿尔茨海默病协会国际会议 (AAIC) 上就该主题展开了辩论。在这篇观点文章中，参与 AAIC 辩论的专家权衡了支持和反对 AD 的传染性理论，并为未来的研究和药物开发提出建议。