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Herpes simplex virus type 1 DNA is present in specific regions of brain from aged people with and without senile dementia of the Alzheimer type
Author(s) -
Jamieson Gordon A.,
Maitland Norman J.,
Wilcock Gordon K.,
Yates Celia M.,
Itzhaki Ruth F.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
the journal of pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.964
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1096-9896
pISSN - 0022-3417
DOI - 10.1002/path.1711670403
Subject(s) - herpes simplex virus , cortex (anatomy) , alzheimer's disease , dementia , hippocampus , senile plaques , virus , temporal cortex , virology , cerebral cortex , senile dementia , medicine , biology , pathology , disease , neuroscience
We have investigated the possible involvement of viruses, specifically Herpes simplex virus type 1, in senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT). Using the highly sensitive polymerase chain reaction, we have detected the viral thymidine kinase gene in post‐mortem brain from 14/21 cases of senile dementia of the Alzheimer type and 9/15 elderly normals. The temporal cortex and hippocampus were usually virus‐positive; in contrast, the occipital cortex was virus‐negative in 9/9 SDAT cases and 5/5 elderly normals. Temporal and frontal cortex from younger normals (five infants and five middle‐aged) were negative. Thus, the presence of Herpes simplex virus type 1 DNA is a region‐dependent feature of the aged brain.