Interaction between APOE4 and herpes simplex virus type 1 in Alzheimer's disease
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Introduction: Numerous results suggest the implication of infectious agents in the onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods: In the Bordeaux‐3C prospective cohort, we assessed the impact of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV‐1) infection on the incidence of AD according to apolipoprotein E ( APOE ) status, a genetic susceptibility factor. Cox models were performed to estimate the 10‐year risk of AD associated with anti‐HSV antibodies in 1037 participants according to APOE4 status. Results: Among APOE4 carriers, subjects for whom the frequency of HSV‐1 reactivation is supposed to be high, that is, immunoglobulin M (IgM) positive or elevated levels of IgG, had an increased risk of AD with adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of 3.68 (1.08–12.55) and 3.28 (1.19–9.03), respectively. No significant association was found in APOE4 ‐negative subjects. Discussion: These results, in accordance with a solid pathophysiological rationale, suggest a role for HSV‐1 in AD development among subjects with a genetic susceptibility factor, the APOE4 allele.
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IgM levels appear to be a more accurate predictor than IgG levels.
“For example, IgM levels appears to be a more accurate predictor than IgG levels [27,31,32].”
From What would it take to prove that a chronic infection is a causal agent in Alzheimer’s disease? (2025) · cites this paper as [32]
Section 3.2 (page not available) reports that, among APOE4 carriers who were IgG-positive, both IgM positivity and high IgG levels were associated with about a threefold higher risk of AD or mixed dementia. The paper evaluates IgM status rather than IgM levels and does not establish that IgM is a more accurate predictor than IgG. (LLM, conf=0.84)
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What would it take to prove that a chronic infection is a causal agent in Alzheimer’s disease?
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- Authors
- Linard, M., Letenneur, L., Garrigue, I., Doize, A., Dartigues, J., & Helmer, C.
- Affiliations
- Université de Bordeaux (FR)
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Corresponding author
- Linard, Morgane
- Venue
- Alzheimer's & Dementia
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2020-01
- Volume
- 16
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 200-208
- ISSN
- 1552-5260 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-5279
- OpenAlex
- W3000424781
- Cited by
- 152
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2026: 21 · 2025: 27 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 23 · 2021: 32 · 2020: 14
- FWCI
- 12.48
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hal.science
- Locations
- Alzheimer s & Dementia (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- HAL (submittedVersion)
- Oskar-Bordeaux (Universite de Bordeaux) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Oskar-Bordeaux (Universite de Bordeaux) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Sanofi
- Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR PNRA 2006, 2009-2012)
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (2009-2012)
- Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale
- Fondation de France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (UMR 5164)
- Mutuelle Générale de l'Education Nationale
- Caisse nationale de solidarité pour l'autonomie
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Herpesvirus Infections and Treatments
- Keywords
- Alzheimer's disease, herpes simplex virus type 1
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Alzheimer Disease, Female, Herpes Simplex, Humans, Immunoglobulin M, Male, Prospective Studies, Herpesvirus 1, Human, Apolipoprotein E4
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