Robert Moir is an Assistant Professor at Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Neurology and Harvard Medical School. He is a neurobiologist whose research focus is the cause of dementia in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). A decade ago he identified an unsuspected immune role for the protein thought to drive neurodegeneration in AD. His findings revealed the protein is a natural antibiotic and has since shown the protein’s antimicrobial actions result in the hallmark brain pathology that makes AD so distinct from other dementias. His discoveries suggest microbes may play a key role in AD and are challenging longstanding views on the origins of this terrible disease.
Robert Moir is an Assistant Professor at Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Neurology and Harvard Medical School. He is a neurobiologist whose research focus is the cause of dementia in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). A decade ago he identified an unsuspected immune role for the protein thought to drive neurodegeneration in AD. His findings revealed the protein is a natural antibiotic and has since shown the protein’s antimicrobial actions result in the hallmark brain pathology that makes AD so distinct from other dementias. His discoveries suggest microbes may play a key role in AD and are challenging longstanding views on the origins of this terrible disease.
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STAT
How an outsider in Alzheimer’s research bucked the prevailing theory — and clawed for validation -
Microbe Minded
Interview with Robert Moir: Infection in Alzheimer’s/brain microbiome -
Forbes
Mapping The Brain's Microbiome: Can Studying Germs In The Brain Lead To A Cure For Alzheimer's?
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The Harvard Gazette
Starting with microbes, Harvard-MGH researchers outline a devastating chain of events -
Proto Magazine
Why Plaque Attacks -
Scientific American
Antimicrobial Mechanism Gone Rogue May Play Role in Alzheimer's Disease -
TIME
Alzheimer's Disease May Stem From Infections -
The New York Times
Could Alzheimer’s Stem From Infections? It Makes Sense, Experts Say -
Science Translational Medicine
Amyloid-β peptide protects against microbial infection in mouse and worm models of Alzheimer’s disease