Epidemiologic research supports the provocative hypothesis.
Neuroimaging and proteomic evidence that infections, including with herpesviruses, increase risk for neurodegeneration
Objective laboratory measurements also support the provocative hypothesis.
Epidemiologic study links varicella-zoster virus reactivation to dementia years later
Observational longitudinal study finds correlation.
Shingrix shingles vaccination shown to reduce the risk of dementia
A large UK study compared those who took a shingles vaccine to those who took only flu or Tdap vaccines.
Patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s or memory problems
Study does not address whether reactivated herpesviruses might be playing a role in the increased neurologic sequelae.
Single-cell RNA sequencing was used to determine the tropism of MRV in the thymus and how central tolerance is disrupted
A new cell culture model for MRV could offer insights on the development of autoimmunity after neonatal infection.
A systematic review and meta-analysis confirms an association between HHV-6B reactivation and increased mortality after hematopoietic cell transplant
Randomized trials are warranted to evaluate if treating HHV-6B reactivation improves outcomes.
Large study from China identifies adverse outcomes associated with, and risk factors for, HHV-6 encephalitis in post-HSCT patients
Greatly increased risk of death, acute GVHD, transplant-associated microangiopathy found.
After screening 100,000 compounds, Merck identified a potent broad-spectrum herpesvirus antiviral
The new small molecule non-nucleoside inhibitor was effective in both in vitro and in vivo studies although no testing against HHV-6 was reported.
Although 28% of children undergoing chemotherapy develop herpesvirus viremia, there is minimal clinical impact
HHV-6, CMV and HSV1/2 were the most likely to reactivate, but herpesvirus reactivation was just as likely prior to chemotherapy.
Lower levels of torque teno virus correlate with higher HHV-6A viral loads and higher rejection rates in kidney transplantation
Value of this observation in determining prognosis or guiding treatment remains to be studied.
How frequent are HHV-6-related complications with CAR-T cell therapy?
A combination of studies find that both reactivation and disease are infrequent after CAR-T therapy.
Febrile status epilepticus in infants with MRI-confirmed brain abnormalities linked to temporal lobe epilepsy later in life
Surprisingly, although HHV-6B has been linked to febrile seizures, febrile status epilepticus and temporal lobe epilepsy, the report contains no mention of the virus.
HHV-6 & acute pediatric hepatitis of unknown cause: Japan’s experience
Adeno-associated virus (AAV) linked to Japanese cases, but whether HHV-6 was a cofactor is uncertain.
HHV-6 found to be possible etiologic agent in some cases of acute hepatitis of unknown origin
Israeli study of 20 pediatric cases occurring in 2021 found more evidence for HHV-6 than for other viruses, including AAV2 and SARS-CoV-2.