The Novel Finding of Intracellular Biofilms in Alzheimer’s Disease

We previously have found biofilms in the hippocampi of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) post mortem brain
specimens. We had seen them in an extracellular location and noted them to be present in the areas
of pathological plaque formation. Other investigators have found the presence of spirochetes (Lyme
and dental) in affected (AD) brains, and these have been correlated with Treponema pallidum. In a
recent historical comparison of the pathology of syphilis, the histological findings of syphilis and AD
were shown to be exactly the same. Further, spirochetes have been cultured from the affected brains
and have been found to make biofilms and beta amyloid precursor protein. Utilizing the same
pathological methods as in our prior study, we have found biofilms in an intracellular location. The
similarity of this finding to other diseases has been presented; and, the impact of the “intra” versus the
“extra” cellular location is discussed. In the future, we will show this phenomenon of intracellular
biofilms is not unique to the organs mentioned, but is also present in such diverse diseases as leprosy
and psoriasis. Consequently, it is another example of nature behaving similarly as regards the
pathogenesis of many diseases.