Researchers point out the possibility that herpesvirus is involved in Alzheimer's disease

by Like_the_Grand_Canyon

A group of researchers such as Mount Sinai and Icahn Medical University in New York confirmed that two types of herpes virus can be found in brains of Alzheimer's disease patients. The group seems to have found that herpesvirus mutually affects brain cells and is progressing the disease.

Multiscale Analysis of Independent Alzheimer's Cohorts Finds Disruption of Molecular, Genetic, and Clinical Networks by Human Herpesvirus: Neuron
https://www.cell.com/neuron/fulltext/S0896-6273(18)30421-5

Herpes Viruses And Alzheimer's: A Possible Link: Shots - Health News: NPR
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/06/21/621908340/researchers-find-herpes-viruses-in-brains-marked-by-alzheimers-disease

Associate Professor Joel Dudley of Mount Sinai - Icahn Medical University compared the genetic data of healthy brain tissue and brain tissue of a person who died of Alzheimer 's disease and was investigating the difference. I found that in human brain tissue of Alzheimer's disease, human herpesvirus 6A (HHV-6A) and human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7) had increased to nearly twice as much. These two kinds of virus are not special, they are known as the cause of sudden rash which is prone to childhood.

Associate Professor Dudley et al. Are investigating, the gene of HHV-6A · HHV-7 interacts with the gene thought to be involved in the progression of Alzheimer's disease, the brain tissue is HHV-6A · It turned out that it was changing to a state susceptible to HHV-7.

However, the existence of HHV-6A · HHV-7 does not cause Alzheimer's disease, but Dhadori points out that HHV-6A · HHV-7 is activated by some factor. I do not know what this "factor of some kind" is so far.

Dr. Richard Hoddis of the National Aging Research Institute, which funds this research, said, "Data is very" exciting ", but it does not indicate the direct cause of Alzheimer's disease, Even if a virus is involved, it does not play a part by itself, "he admits that it is strong evidence that virus infection can affect the process of Alzheimer's disease while being cautiously persuaded .

Regarding the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease so far it has not worked so well so far, but this research will newly "give antiviral agent to people with a large number of herpesviruses in the brain tissue" "brain Immune cells prevent the virus from reacting to progression of Alzheimer's disease "and a new approach suggests that it could have advanced one step towards Alzheimer's disease treatment.