Cytomegalovirus is a type of herpes virus that most humans are exposed to in their lives. This virus is normally spread from one individual to another through bodily fluids but isn’t considered a sexually transmitted illness.
Prior studies have determined that the virus may remain active in the gut, sometimes travelling to the brain through the vagus nerve. Once there, the virus can alter the immune system and contribute to changes linked to Alzheimer’s.
One study found that brains of Alzheimer’s patients were likely to have CD83 microglia, with the researchers noting that antibodies found in the intestines of these patients pointed to a gut infection contributing to Alzheimer’s development.
Now a recently conducted study has discovered a new link between the development of Alzheimer’s and chronic gut infections. The study was carried out by researchers at Banner Alzheimer’s Institute and Arizona State University, along with other collaborators. Their objective was to find out what could be driving the production of antibodies in the intestines.
For their study, the researchers began by examining spinal fluid from patients with Alzheimer’s, finding that the antibodies being produced were specifically against cytomegalovirus. This led them to look for the virus in the intestines and brain tissue, which they found, revealing that they also found traces of the virus in the vagus nerve of these patients.
Once this was done, the researchers investigated the ability of the virus to cause molecular changes related to Alzheimer’s, discovering that exposure led to heightened production of phosphorylated tau and amyloid proteins.
In their report, the researchers explained that exposure to cytomegalovirus could aid in the development of chronic intestinal infections, as the virus could enter an individual’s bloodstream or travel to the brain through the vagus nerve. They added that once the virus got to the brain, it was recognized by the microglia, which turned on CD83 gene expression thus contributing to biological changes involved in Alzheimer’s development.
The co-first author of the study, Dr. Ben Redhead, explained that they may have discovered a biologically unique Alzheimer’s subtype that may affect a substantial proportion of patients with this illness.
The researchers are now focused on determining whether current antiviral medications could prevent or treat this form of Alzheimer’s. In addition to this, they are developing a blood test to identify individuals with active cytomegalovirus infections who may benefit from antiviral drugs.
The study’s findings were published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association.
These latest findings could give drug makers like Annovis Bio Inc. (NYSE: ANVS) additional information to leverage in their efforts geared at commercializing effective treatments targeting neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Annovis Bio Inc. (NYSE: ANVS) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/ANVS
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