Recent insights into viral infections as a trigger and accelerator in alzheimer's disease

Lize De Vlieger; Roosmarijn E Vandenbroucke; Lien Van Hoecke

doi:10.1016/j.drudis.2022.103340

Recent insights into viral infections as a trigger and accelerator in alzheimer's disease

Drug Discov Today. 2022 Nov;27(11):103340. doi: 10.1016/j.drudis.2022.103340. Epub 2022 Aug 18.

Authors

Lize De Vlieger¹, Roosmarijn E Vandenbroucke², Lien Van Hoecke¹

Affiliations

¹ Barriers in Inflammation Lab, VIB Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
² Barriers in Inflammation Lab, VIB Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: Roosmarijn.Vandenbroucke@irc.VIB-UGent.be.

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder for which only symptomatic medication is available, except for the recently FDA-approved aducanumab. This lack of effective treatment urges us to investigate alternative paths that might contribute to disease development. In light of the recent SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and the disturbing neurological complications seen in some patients, it is desirable to (re)investigate the viability of the viral infection theory claiming that a microbe could affect AD initiation and/or progression. Here, we review the most important evidence for this theory with a special focus on two viruses, namely HSV-1 and SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, we discuss the possible involvement of extracellular vesicles (EVs). This overview will contribute to a more rational approach of potential treatment strategies for AD patients.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; HSV; Herpes simplex virus; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Viral infection theory.

Publication types

Review