CMV Driven Immunosenescence and Alzheimers Disease

Abstract

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is well known for producing severe life-threatening infection in immunocompromised hosts (HIV, organ transplant). CMV latently infects immune competent individuals as well and has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Nearly all elderly carry the CMV virus and the immune consequence of CMV can be overwhelming. This article reviews Alzheimer’s and its pathology, CMV and immune risk and how the immune dysfunction can lead to Alzheimer’s. Early risk detection with new biomarker imaging technology for Alzheimer’s along with antiviral drugs and immune support with telomerase activation may all mitigate the expected epidemic of Alzheimer’s disease.