WTC Responders Are Developing Cognitive Impairment in their 50s

WTC responders went through a lot, and they continue to suffer the effects of chemical exposure and other consequences of their work.  These include cancer, respiratory disease, and PTSD.  According to an article in this week's ALZForum, this list now also includes people experiencing cognitive impairment in their 50s.  The article is "Do World Trade Center Responders Get Early Onset Plaques and Tangles?"

The answer to the question is "Yes."  But why, and is this Alzheimer's disease?

As far as the "why" goes, the authors point to exposures to known chemical agents that could cause inflammation in the brain.  Neuroinflammation is correlated with the Alzheimer's disease process.  Also, a significant number continue to suffer from PTSD which may cause changes in the brain that eventually lead to the famous amyloid plaques and tangles.

When the responders are subjected to cognitive testing, many show cognitive decline consistent with someone 20 years older.  So does that mean they are developing Alzheimer's disease?  Likely not, because the plaques and tangles, when imaged in PET scans, are distributed in areas of the brain that are not typical for Alzheimer's disease.

This topic is attracting a lot of attention, and there will be more research.  For the people affected, the future is uncertain.  No one knows if this is just a new form of Alzheimer's disease.  If it's not, no one knows if their cognitive impairment will continue just like Alzheimer's disease, or will it perhaps stop or even self-correct?  Pausing and even return to normal cognition sometimes happen when cognitive impairment has a cause other than Alzheimer's disease.

We will be curious to find out what future research discovers ... and if it yields help for people facing the consequences of their work.