A study from the University of Milan finds a new method capable of inhibiting one of the primary causes of neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease. A research study conducted by the University of Milan and published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation has identified an unexpected effect of the parasite Leishmania infantum, which is known to cause visceral leishmaniasis: this microorganism seems to diminish certain inflammatory processes associated with Alzheimer's disease. Scientists examined how the parasite interacts with microglial cells — a sort of “immune system of the brain". Normally, when these cells come into contact with the β-amyloid protein, which accumulates in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, they trigger a strong inflammatory response. However, studies have revealed that Leishmania infantum can inhibit this process, blocking the activation of an important inflammatory mechanism known as the NLRP3 inflammasome. In essence, the parasite can enter microglia and suppress their inflammatory response, lowering the production of chemicals that harm neurons. To understand how this occurs, the researchers employed cutting-edge observation techniques such as confocal microscopy and high-resolution imaging, which allow them to see what is happening inside cells in real time. This result does not imply that the parasite is a cure for Alzheimer's, but it does offer up new possibilities for researching therapeutic options that can manage brain inflammation more effectively and safely.