FEBRUARY 7, 2023

Neurodegenerative Disease Risk Linked to Viral Exposure

By Ethan Covey

Exposure to viral illnesses may increase the risk for neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs), such as Alzheimer’s disease, according to a recent National Institutes of Health study.

While research has long implied certain viruses may play a role in the development of NDDs, a study published in 2022 identified a link between Epstein-Barr virus and multiple sclerosis (Science 2022;375[6578]:296-301). This finding motivated the NIH Center for Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias