The relationship between HSV1 and Alzheimers

[LightafterDarkness]

Seems the case continues to build

"“HSV1 is a major factor – not the cause, but probably a cause of Alzheimer disease,”

https://www.neurologylive.com/conferences/aaic-2019/researchers-continue-to-make-inroads-towards-infectious-link-to-alzheimer-disease

[WilsoInAus]

51 minutes ago, LightafterDarkness said:

Seems the case continues to build

"“HSV1 is a major factor – not the cause, but probably a cause of Alzheimer disease,”

https://www.neurologylive.com/conferences/aaic-2019/researchers-continue-to-make-inroads-towards-infectious-link-to-alzheimer-disease

Did you read the whole article, it actually points out that microbe theory is failing to explain AD:

“None of this really gets to the question of causality. A very real alternative is that maybe these are just opportunistic pathogens that have space to spring up in a brain that’s affected by AD, or maybe these pathogens don’t necessarily cause disease, but in the presence of disease, maybe they are capable of making things worse or accelerating disease,” he posited.

The headline is just sensationalist. I feel the very intelligent perspectives of Readhead come through sufficiently if you read the whole article and subtext.

[LightafterDarkness]

I did indeed read the full article- my take is that so far there appears to be correlation here. Now of course correlation does not imply causation so more to learn here I suppose as you point out

[WilsoInAus]

1 hour ago, LightafterDarkness said:

I did indeed read the full article- my take is that so far there appears to be correlation here. Now of course correlation does not imply causation so more to learn here I suppose as you point out

Also note that HSV-1 was one small part of the microbe debate that was one session of the entire conference.

The most significant advancement on the microbe front discussed was related to the bacteria that causes gingivitis is found in over 50% of AD brains!

Another important part of the conference was the honour afforded to researh into astrocytes. The linkage between amyloid plaques, astrocytes and genetic factors looks an extremely strong key to unlock the problem of identifying causes.

 

[MikeHerp]

"“None of this really gets to the question of causality. A very real alternative is that maybe these are just opportunistic pathogens that have space to spring up in a brain that’s affected by AD, or maybe these pathogens don’t necessarily cause disease, but in the presence of disease, maybe they are capable of making things worse or accelerating disease,”

Let me translate: 

"maybe these are just opportunistic pathogens that have space to spring up in a brain that’s affected by AD"  == AD provides an invading pathogen an opportunity to spring up in the brain = PROBABLY NOT GOOD

"or maybe these pathogens don’t necessarily cause disease, but in the presence of disease, maybe they are capable of making things worse or accelerating disease" = AD + HSV = AD on steroids.  == definitely NOT GOOD.

Neither of these alternatives are particularly good things for people with HSV.  The exact role of HSV in relation to AD is yet to be determined, but nothing I've read makes me think that people with HSV have nothing to worry about on this front.  

Edited July 29, 2019 by MikeHerp

[MikeHerp]

Now I'd add that, I don't at all expect that HSV will be found to be THE cause of AD.  Not at all. 

If I had to guess, it's probably going to be found to be an accelerant, if you already had a certain susceptibility.  I.e., it will be an aggravating factor in a certain but significant subset of people.  Maybe those AD people will have genetic factors which predispose them.  

It will likely be a complex matter, but I do expect that it's quite likely that HSV plays a role.  The evidence is definitely piling up. 

And it wouldn't be shocking.  HSV is an inflammatory disease, that is known to be capable of spreading to and reactivating in the brain and other parts of the nervous system outside the "traditional" parts, in a significant number of people.  The result of many different kinds of cell types being infected with HSV, is that they burst (i.e., die).  So to suggest that HSV may be involved in some way in brain impairment isn't like harboring a wild conspiracy theory about infrasonic mind controls rays from planet Krypton.

It's generally not considered a great thing to have a chronic inflammatory disease.  I don't know why HSV would be some kind of exception.

Edited July 29, 2019 by MikeHerp

[WilsoInAus]

@MikeHerp I’m sorry but you’ve misrepresetned what the debate was all about  why didn’t you listen to the debate and report upon that? Because you are seeing what YOU want to see and read and hear.

We all understand what Readhead said, Im not sure what your guesses and what wouldn’t surprise you have to do with an educated scientist’s perspectives.

The debate covered the most amazing issue... that the bacteria gingivalis is found in an astonishing 50% of brain plaques. That’s heaps more than HSV-1!

WOW!!

I’ll let you finish reading the proceedings so we can discuss that funding and a few other incredible developments.

[MikeHerp]

Here’s what he said: 

“maybe these are just opportunistic pathogens that have space to spring up in a brain that’s affected by AD"  == AD provides an invading pathogen an opportunity to spring up in the brain = PROBABLY NOT GOOD

"or maybe these pathogens don’t necessarily cause disease, but in the presence of disease, maybe they are capable of making things worse or accelerating disease" = AD + HSV = AD on steroids.  == definitely NOT GOOD

I think it’s pretty clear what he is saying,  also note the “maybe”

 

[WilsoInAus]

Yes @MikeHerp he is using the word "maybe" now acknowledging that the microbe theory is giving way to genetic issues supported by microbes... where might it go next? Also note that Readhead does not mention HSV-1 at all. No AD on steroids has not been established nor has HSV being a contributor to acceleration as you suggest. It is all maybe and losing ground each passing day. That's an enormous backtrack from the initial hypothesis of microbes causing AZ.

As I said it is completely trumped in any event by gingivalis, the new kid on the block: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30746447

[Tacotime]

Amy Proal (@microbeminded2) Tweeted:

Interesting! 👉 This study in mice found that persistent herpes #virus (HSV) activity detected in the brainstem...may primarily result from the transport of reactivated HSV from the trigeminal nerve into the brainstem: https://t.co/gFlJex7FEL https://t.co/VWImtcf0S1

 

 

Amy Proal (@microbeminded2) Tweeted:

But as the team explains, the study of HSV’s activity + reactivation in the central nervous system can inform the study of many #neuroinflammatory conditions (in addition to Alzheimer’s)