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Alzheimer's disease - a neurospirochetosis. Analysis of the evidence following Koch's and Hill's criteria
Miklossy J.. Journal of neuroinflammation, 2011-08-04
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
It is established that chronic spirochetal infection can cause slowly progressive dementia, brain atrophy and amyloid deposition in late neurosyphilis. Recently it has been suggested that various types of spirochetes, in an analogous way to Treponema pallidum, could cause dementia and may be involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we review all data available in the literature on the detection of spirochetes in AD and critically analyze the association and causal relationship between spirochetes and AD following established criteria of Koch and Hill.
Key findings
- Recently it has been suggested that various types of spirochetes, in an analogous way to Treponema pallidum, could cause dementia and may be involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD).
- Here, we review all data available in the literature on the detection of spirochetes in AD and critically analyze the association and causal relationship between spirochetes and AD following established criteria of Koch and Hill.
- The results show a statistically significant association between spirochetes and AD (P = 1.5 × 10-17, OR = 20, 95% CI = 8-60, N = 247).
- When neutral techniques recognizing all types of spirochetes were used, or the highly prevalent periodontal pathogen Treponemas were analyzed, spirochetes were observed in the brain in more than 90% of AD cases.
Why it matters
This review analyzed existing literature and reported a statistically significant association between spirochetes and Alzheimer's disease. It is an analysis of published data, not a trial, so it does not show that treating infection would prevent or cure the disease.
Study details
- Participants247
- Effect size25.3%
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 52/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of neuroinflammation) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Journal of Neuroinflammation: journal h-index 216 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2011 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 247 participants |
| Effect reported | 2 / 3 | Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 356 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 20.9 citations a year over 17 year(s) since 2011 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 7.7× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 4 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 56 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Judith Miklossy: h-index 49 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Prevention Alzheimer International Foundation: institution h-index 11 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 21816039) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 52 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1186/1742-2094-8-90
- PubMed: 21816039
- Original source →
- Free full text: Journal of Neuroinflammation →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Miklossy, J. (2011). Alzheimer's disease - a neurospirochetosis. Analysis of the evidence following Koch's and Hill's criteria. Journal of neuroinflammation. https://doi.org/10.1186/1742-2094-8-90
Vancouver
Miklossy J. Alzheimer's disease - a neurospirochetosis. Analysis of the evidence following Koch's and Hill's criteria. Journal of neuroinflammation. 2011. doi:10.1186/1742-2094-8-90. PMID: 21816039.
BibTeX
@article{miklossy2011-21816039,
author = {Miklossy, J.},
title = {{Alzheimer's disease - a neurospirochetosis. Analysis of the evidence following Koch's and Hill's criteria}},
journal = {Journal of neuroinflammation},
year = {2011},
doi = {10.1186/1742-2094-8-90},
pmid = {21816039},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/1742-2094-8-90}
}
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