A new study has found a link between the common herpes virus human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and Alzheimer's disease. Researchers believe that HCMV may travel from the gut to the brain, potentially contributing to the development of the neurodegenerative disorder.
A new study has uncovered a potential link between human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), a common herpes virus, and Alzheimer's disease. The research, published on December 19th, suggests that HCMV might reside in the gut and later travel to the brain, potentially contributing to the development of the neurodegenerative disorder. HCMV is prevalent, with about one-third of Americans developing antibodies to the virus by age 5 and half infected by age 40.
While typically causing mild or no symptoms in healthy individuals, the virus remains in the body for life, controlled but not eradicated by the immune system. This persistence allows for potential reactivation, reinfection of the gut, and subsequent movement to the brain.The study, led by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, examined brain tissue samples from 101 deceased individuals, 66 of whom had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. They focused on a specific protein, CD83(+), found on microglia cells, which play a crucial role in brain health. The presence of CD83(+) in the brain tissue was strongly correlated with HCMV presence in the gut. Furthermore, experiments using brain organoids, laboratory-grown tissues resembling human brain cells, showed that HCMV infection accelerated the production of amyloid and tau proteins, both implicated in Alzheimer's disease.While the study's findings highlight a potential connection, it's crucial to remember that correlation doesn't necessarily equate to causation. More research is needed to determine if HCMV directly causes Alzheimer's disease and to identify the factors that trigger its reactivation and movement to the brain. Nevertheless, this study adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting that chronic gut infections, including those caused by herpes viruses, may contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease decades before symptoms appear.
ALZHEIMER's DISEASE CYTOMEGALOVIRUS GUT-BRAIN CONNECTION NEURODEGENERATION VIRUS
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