Could a Common Eye Bacteria Be Linked to Alzheimer’s? | Dr. Maya Koronyo-Hamaoui

Could a Common Eye Bacteria Be Linked to Alzheimer’s? | Dr. Maya Koronyo-Hamaoui

From Brain Talk | Being Patient for Alzheimer's Patients and Caregivers by Being Patient

June 3, 2026 · 28 min

About this episode

Dr. Maya Koronyo-Hamaoui discusses the potential link between a common eye bacteria and Alzheimer's disease.

Bacteria found in the eye may offer new clues about inflammation, cognitive decline, and the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Maya Koronyo-Hamaoui, a professor of neurosurgery, neurology and biomedical sciences at Cedars-Sinai Health Sciences University, has found that Chlamydia pneumoniae, a common respiratory bacterium, may be linked to Alzheimer’s disease-related changes in the brain and retina. Her work, focusing on Alzheimer’s disease, neuroinflammation and retinal imaging, seeks to improve how neurodegenerative diseases are detected, monitored, and treated. During this conversation with Being Patient’s Mark Niu, Koronyo-Hamaoui explained how her team found evidence of Chlamydia pneumoniae in eye and brain tissue, with higher bacterial burden associated with more severe Alzheimer’s disease. She also discussed how the retina may serve as a noninvasive window into brain health, why chronic inflammation may play a role in disease progression, and why future research is needed to understand whether infection may contribute to Alzheimer’s risk in some people.---If you loved listening to this Live Talk, visit our website to find more of our Alzheimer’s coverage and…

People in this episode

Host: Mark Niu

Guest: Dr. Maya Koronyo-Hamaoui

Topics covered

  • Alzheimer's disease
  • neuroinflammation
  • retinal imaging
  • cognitive decline
  • bacterial infection
  • brain health

Keywords

  • Alzheimer's
  • Chlamydia pneumoniae
  • neuroinflammation
  • retina
  • cognitive decline
  • brain health
  • bacteria
  • disease progression

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Cedars-Sinai Health Sciences University, Being Patient

Products: Chlamydia pneumoniae

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