The Independent (U.K.) carries news of research which appears to show that a person can "catch" or become infected by Alzheimer's. They found this happens via the transplantation of nerve materials or the injection of HGH, the human growth hormone.
Not clear from the article is whether one might also become infected via blood transfusion or other receipt of human-derived materials, for instance corneas or a heart or kidney transplant. It seems likely, suggesting donors should be screened for early-stage Alzheimer's, if such is even possible.
The finding makes me wonder if, like mad cow disease, Alzheimer's might be prion-based, or something similar. There seems no evidence to date it can be caught by associating with, or caring for, someone with the disease.
