BCG Vaccine May Rewire Brain Immunity, Shift Alzheimer's Markers Over 12 Months

Researchers from Mass General Brigham have discovered that the BCG vaccine—traditionally used to prevent tuberculosis—may reshape the immune environment in the human brain, potentially explaining the previously documented link between BCG vaccination and reduced Alzheimer's disease risk. The study, published in Communications Medicine, tracked immune marker changes over a 12-month period. This finding could open new therapeutic avenues for neurodegenerative disease prevention by leveraging the vaccine's immunomodulatory effects. The research suggests that BCG's skin-delivered mechanism may trigger systemic immune changes that protect brain health.