They investigated whether VZV can play a similar role to HSV-1 - that might implicate VZV directly in AD development. However, they did find VZV infection resulted in both gliosis and up-regulation of inflammatory cytokines. 'The damage in the brain by repeated infections over a lifetime would lead eventually to the development of AD/dementia. 'This would mean vaccines could play a greater role than just protecting against a single disease, because they could also indirectly, by reducing infections, provide some protection against Alzheimer’s.' The full paper, ‘Potential involvement of Varicella Zoster Virus in Alzheimer’s Disease via reactivation of quiescent Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1’, is published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.
