Lyme Science Blog

The True Cost of Lyme Disease: A Growing Economic Burden Lyme disease carries a significant cost—not only to individual patients, but to society as a whole. When persistent symptoms develop, the financial impact rises sharply. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0} Cost of Early vs Chronic Lyme Disease For patients with early Lyme disease, the average annual cost is relatively […]

Is Lyme Disease New? Is Lyme disease new? Although Lyme disease was first recognized in Connecticut in the 1970s, evidence suggests the bacteria responsible for the illness have existed for thousands — and possibly millions — of years. Scientists have identified Lyme-like bacteria in ancient ticks preserved in amber and even in the DNA of

New Drug Combinations Target Lyme Persister Cells Researchers have identified novel drug combinations that may be effective against Lyme disease “persister” cells—forms of Borrelia burgdorferi that appear more tolerant to standard antibiotics in laboratory studies. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0} What Are Persister Forms? Under stress—such as exposure to antibiotics or nutrient limitation—the Lyme bacterium can change shape. Instead

Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome: Why Some Patients Remain Ill for Years Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS) describes patients who continue to experience symptoms months or even years after treatment. A growing body of research highlights the long-term impact of Lyme disease in a subset of individuals. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0} Persistent Symptoms Are Well Documented Several studies have

Do Short Courses of Antibiotics Fall Short in Lyme Disease? Standard treatment for Lyme disease often includes a 2–3 week course of antibiotics. However, several studies have raised questions about whether this duration is sufficient for all patients. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0} Early Concerns About Treatment Duration As early as 1990, Logigian and colleagues suggested that a two-week

Lyme Disease as a Reversible Cause of Dementia Cognitive decline is often attributed to conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease or normal pressure hydrocephalus. However, in some cases, Lyme disease may present with similar symptoms—and may be reversible with appropriate treatment. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0} When Dementia Isn’t Dementia Reports have described individuals initially diagnosed with dementia who were

ILADS Lyme Disease Guidelines Rank in Top 5% of Research Articles The ILADS Lyme disease guidelines have ranked in the top 5% of all research articles, based on Altmetric scoring—highlighting their reach and influence beyond traditional citation metrics. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0} What Is an Altmetric Score? Altmetrics track how research is discussed and shared across news outlets,

Netherlands Trial: Does It Really Support Short-Term Lyme Disease Therapy? A randomized trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine evaluated whether longer-term antibiotic treatment improves outcomes in patients with persistent symptoms attributed to Lyme disease. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0} The authors concluded that longer-term therapy did not provide additional benefit compared to shorter-term treatment. Who Was

JAMA Review Overlooks Chronic Manifestations of Lyme Disease A JAMA review concluded that short courses of antibiotics—such as 10 days of doxycycline for erythema migrans and 14 days for early neurologic Lyme disease—are effective. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0} However, the review excluded a substantial body of literature describing persistent symptoms and chronic manifestations of Lyme disease. What Was