Viruses and Neurodegenerative Diseases: Breakthrough Findings in Medical Research
Recent large-scale studies in the medical field are shedding new light on the connection between viral infections and the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and multiple sclerosis.
An analysis of over 500,000 medical records conducted by scientists indicates that certain viruses, including encephalitis, pneumonia, chickenpox, and meningitis, significantly increase the likelihood of these disorders.
It was found that individuals who experienced viral encephalitis are 31 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, and those hospitalized with pneumonia show a higher susceptibility to severe neurodegenerative conditions like Parkinson’s disease and dementia.
Additionally, viral infections of the gut, along with herpes zoster (shingles), also contribute to the progression of neurodegenerative processes in the brain, with effects sometimes persisting more than 15 years after the initial infection.
Notably, a massive study involving 10 million people identified a link between Epstein-Barr virus and a 32-fold increase in multiple sclerosis risk.
Another recent investigation analyzed medical data from approximately 135,000 individuals, identifying 22 potential correlations between viral infections and neurodegenerative diseases.
While causality has not been definitively established, the findings underscore that viral infections and associated inflammation of the nervous system may be significant risk factors for these conditions.
According to researcher Andrew Singleton, preventing viral infections and reducing neural inflammation could become key strategies in future prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.
However, scientists emphasize that these results are preliminary, and further research is necessary to confirm causal links.
This emerging evidence underscores the importance of regular medical checkups and vaccination to maintain brain health and potentially reduce the risk of severe neurological diseases.