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Persistent infections, immune-senescence and Alzheimer's disease

Federico Licastro1, Elisa Porcellini1

  • 1Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna 40126, Italy.

Oncoscience
|August 5, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Alzheimer's disease may be linked to herpes virus infections, especially in genetically susceptible individuals. This challenges the immune system, potentially leading to neurodegeneration and cognitive decline.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology
  • Infectious Disease

Background:

  • Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a leading cause of dementia, but its exact pathogenesis remains incompletely understood.
  • Classical hallmarks like amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles do not fully explain AD.
  • Emerging research suggests Aβ peptides may have antimicrobial functions, and herpes viruses are implicated in AD.

Discussion:

  • Genetic factors, specifically single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), may compromise antiviral defenses, increasing susceptibility to herpes virus infections.
  • Herpes viruses, through cycles of latency and reactivation, continuously stimulate the immune system, promoting chronic inflammation.
  • This sustained immune activation in genetically susceptible elderly individuals may drive progressive neurodegenerative mechanisms.

Key Insights:

  • A novel perspective links herpes virus infections and genetic predispositions to Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis.
  • Chronic immune stimulation by persistent viral infections could be a key factor in neurodegeneration.
  • This hypothesis offers a new framework for understanding AD beyond traditional hallmarks.

Outlook:

  • Exploring the interplay between genetics, viral infections, and immune responses in AD.
  • Developing new preventative strategies and medical treatments targeting viral infections and inflammation for age-associated cognitive decline.
  • Investigating the potential of antiviral therapies for Alzheimer's disease prevention and treatment.
Keywords:
Alzheimer's diseaseherpes virus latency and infectionneuro-inflammation and cognitive declineperipheral inflammation

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