BCG vaccination mitigates tau pathology and restores cognitive function in PS19 mice.

BCG vaccination reduces tau pathology, neuroinflammation, and brain atrophy while improving cognitive function in PS19 mice.

• Why it matters: Alzheimer's disease incidence is significantly lower among BCG recipients, but the mechanisms behind this protective effect are unclear, highlighting a need for understanding potential therapeutic pathways.
• What they did: Researchers administered BCG to PS19 mice and assessed effects through MRI, behavioral tests, transcriptomic analysis, and immune profiling, revealing reductions in phospho-tau and microgliosis, and normalization of disease-related gene expression.
• The result: BCG treatment enhanced tau clearance, decreased neuroinflammation, and improved cognitive and survival outcomes, suggesting BCG as a safe, accessible candidate for dementia prevention.