There is momentum in the field of new herpes diagnostics and therapies.

Advocates, experts and patient advocates continue to urge public health stakeholders to advance new vaccines into clinical trials urgently.

Evidence continues to grow around herpes impact on brain health – several new studies are below. Can infections cause Alzheimer’s Disease? This article in Science Magazine summarizes recent evidence that it may. Science is also emerging around herpes impact on autoimmune disorder and post viral illness. A recent report from NASEM on Infection Association Chronic Conditions speaks to this important public health issue.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVOCACY

September 20th FDA Listening Session: Patient and Care Partner Perspectives on Safety Considerations for Approved Gene Therapy Treatments for Rare Diseases

October 16th FDA Stakeholder Listening Session: Advancing Rare Disease Therapies Through an FDA Rare Disease Innovation Hub

SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENT

NEW RESEARCH DOCUMENTING HERPES IMPACT ON BRAIN HEALTH, ALZHEIMERS AND DEMENTIA

Proteomics identifies potential immunological drivers of post-infection brain atrophy and cognitive decline

“Despite these limitations, our results show a link between infections, accelerated brain atrophy and increased dementia risk, while highlighting the immunological proteins by which infections may contribute to neurodegeneration.”

Read Full Paper Here.

Infection burden, periodontal pathogens, and their interactive association with incident all-cause and Alzheimer’s disease dementia in a large national survey

“An increasing body of research suggests that AD may be linked to exposure to bacterial and viral infections, including spirochetes, oral bacterial species, gastrointestinal microbes, and herpesviruses. Host immune response to infectious agents may initiate or accelerate AD processes, such as the accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ), pathogenic tau protein, and neuroinflammation. Particularly in brain regions with AD pathology, infectious agents and their related molecules may breach blood-brain barriers, accelerate Aβ deposition, and trigger neurotoxic microglial activation, resulting in a cycle of neurodegeneration brought on by pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs).”

Read the Full Paper Here.