Impact of common viral infections on Alzheimer’s progression
A recent study highlights the potential role of common viral infections in promoting the development of Alzheimer’s.
Previous research has established a relationship between varicella zoster virus (VZV), herpes simplex virus (HSV) and Alzheimer’s; however, there is little known about how these viruses may promote disease progression. A recent study from Tufts University (MA, US) and University of Oxford (UK) reports that exposure to VZV may activate HSV, which in turn promotes the early stages of Alzheimer’s, specifically accumulation of amyloid protein.