Mechanistic Link Between Herpes Virus, Alzheimer's Revealed?

[Ruhi]

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection may activate dormant herpes simplex virus (HSV-1), leading to neuroinflammation and accumulation of Alzheimer's disease (AD)–related proteins in the brain, new research suggests. Previous research has suggested a correlation between HSV-1 and AD and involvement of VZV. However, the sequence of events that the viruses create to set the disease in motion has been unclear.

[Jiniya]

@ruhi Strikingly," VZV infection of cells quiescently infected with HSV-1 caused reactivation of HSV-1, leading to AD-like changes, including amyloid-beta and P-tau accumulation. This suggests that VZV is unlikely to be a direct cause of AD but rather acts indirectly via reactivation of HSV-1