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BCG Vaccine Shows Promise Reducing Alzheimer Risk in Early Trial

7/6/2026

Summary

Story summary

Researchers at Mass General Brigham reported BCG vaccine may remodel brain’s immune environment and lower Alzheimer’s risk.
Two one-year BCG trials enrolled 23 adults (11 with pathology, 12 without).
Researchers observed increased CSF immune responsiveness without inflammation and lower brain amyloid-beta with higher blood levels in participants without pathology.
Mahesh Chandra Kodali, PhD, and Zhaozhi Li, PhD, said the shift suggests timing matters and that placebo-controlled trials are needed.

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Story summary

Researchers at Mass General Brigham reported BCG vaccine may remodel brain’s immune environment and lower Alzheimer’s risk.
Two one-year BCG trials enrolled 23 adults (11 with pathology, 12 without).
Researchers observed increased CSF immune responsiveness without inflammation and lower brain amyloid-beta with higher blood levels in participants without pathology.
Mahesh Chandra Kodali, PhD, and Zhaozhi Li, PhD, said the shift suggests timing matters and that placebo-controlled trials are needed.