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People with Alzheimer's seem to have more things in their brain that shouldn't be there than normal. Past findings include types of immune cells that shouldn't
by dkural 8y ago
People with Alzheimer's seem to have more things in their brain that shouldn't be there than normal. Past findings include types of immune cells that shouldn't be there, various yeast, other types of virus etc. It's not clear if all those are there due to the blood-brain barrier loosing structural integrity, or those cause Alzheimer's in the first place.
- craftyguy 8y agoClassic example of correlation != causation.
- theothermkn 8y ago> In other news, Alzheimer's patients breathe oxygen and drink water. Beware! This very remark undermines your snark. We clearly would not look at 'breathes air" or 'drinks water,' precisely because these are factors that are common in the population between those who do and those who do not develop Alzheimer's. It is, in fact, the very fact that the factors that the grandparent mentioned "don't belong in the brain" that is interesting, and suggestive of models other than, for example, "Alzheimer's is an isolated, simple condition that is relatively unaffected by confounds." It is these very same correlations that can lead us to the likely rocks to turn over, and that is where the newsworthiness and interest derives. Everybody knows about correlation and causation. It's possibly not causative, for example, but seems to be correlative that people who snark about correlation and causation tend to shoot themselves in the feet with their sarcasm. I sure know where I'll look for a deeper explanation, though!
- craftyguy 8y ago> precisely because these are factors that are common in the population Herpes is also extremely common in the human population (cold sores, anyone?) so I fail to see how this somehow proves your point.
- swsieber 8y agoBut Herpes in the brain isn't common in the human population.
- theothermkn 8y agocraftyguy truncated the comment. "...common in the population between..." those who do and those who do not. I was talking about the water and breathing comment, clearly meaning that both the diseased and the unaffected have the behaviors of drinking water and breathing air in common. It's not absolute frequency that matters, but a difference in frequency between the diseased and the disease-free that is potentially explanatory.
- tomhoward 8y ago> The team found that levels of two human herpes viruses, HHV-6 and HHV-7, were up to twice as high in brain tissue from people with Alzheimer's. Yes, HHV-6 is common throughout the population, including in the brain. It's an endogenous retrovirus, so is inherited via DNA, or is easily transmitted from person to person, particularly in childhood. The issue is severity, not presence. By the way, the variants of herpes in question are HHV-6/7, which are different to the herpes simplex viruses (HSV1/2) that cause cold sores and skin breakouts.
- pc86 8y agoPlease quote from the linked article where they imply causation.
- ShabbosGoy 8y agoIn the article, tbey only mention that HHV-6 and HHV-7 virus levels are increased. Don’t really see where causation is implied at all. It’s the same with elevated levels amyloid beta, only one piece of the puzzle.
- pc86 8y agoThat was my point - the article doesn't imply any causation, so the "correlation != causation" meme is an irrelevant criticism.
- mfringel 8y ago"Correlation's not causation" Is not some magical incantation With just a word or two of proof We all get closer to the truth - mfringel the rhetorical safety officer