[Prenatal infection as driving force of aging-associated neurodegenerative diseases].

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common type of age-related dementia. Besides few genetic mutations, many non-genetic risk factors are known to significantly influence disease onset and progression. How-ever, the molecular mechanisms and their causal relationships are largely unknown. We developed a mouse model that is characterized by long-term imbalances in inflammatory modulators; achieved through a prenatal infection that constitutes a central aging-relevant factor. This early immune challenge induces a significant acceleration of aging-related neuropathology. Combining the prenatal with a systemic infection during aging, we were able to enhance this pathophysiological effect significantly. Our data imply that prenatal inflammation constitutes a major risk factor of age-related dementia that, in combination with additional immune challenge during aging, is a critical driving force of progressive AD associated neuropathology.