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Interaction between Cytomegalovirus and Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Associated with the Risk of Alzheimer's Disease

Hugo Lövheim1,2, Jan Olsson3, Bodil Weidung1,2

  • 1Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Geriatric Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.

Journal of Alzheimer'S Disease : JAD
|December 20, 2017
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection alone does not increase Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk. However, a combined CMV and Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 (HSV1) infection significantly elevates AD development risk, suggesting a synergistic effect.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Alzheimer's disease (AD) etiology is multifactorial, with environmental factors including infectious agents implicated.
  • Cytomegalovirus (CMV) has been recently associated with AD, prompting further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if Cytomegalovirus (CMV) carriage, individually or with Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), elevates Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk.
  • To explore the potential interaction between CMV and HSV in the context of AD development.

Main Methods:

  • Plasma samples from 360 AD cases and 360 matched dementia-free controls were analyzed for anti-CMV and anti-HSV (including HSV1 and HSV2) IgG and IgM antibodies.
  • Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used for antibody detection, with conditional logistic regression analyses comparing AD cases and controls.

Main Results:

  • No increased risk of AD was observed with anti-CMV IgG antibody presence alone (OR=0.857, p=0.497).
  • A significant association was found between CMV and HSV1 carriage among AD cases (OR=7.145, p<0.001).
  • The interaction between CMV and HSV1 was significantly associated with AD development (OR=5.662, p=0.007).

Conclusions:

  • Findings do not support a direct link between CMV infection and AD development.
  • An interaction between CMV and HSV1 is significantly associated with AD development.
  • CMV infection may facilitate the development of HSV1-associated AD, potentially through immune system modulation.
Keywords:
Alzheimer’s diseaseHerpes simplex viruscytomegalovirusdementianested case-control study

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