We evaluated the association of HSV-1, HHV-6, and VZV with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). Brain specimens for viral DNA polymerase chain reaction represented 34 patients with AD, 40 with PD, and 40 controls. One AD patient (2.9%) was positive for HSV-1 DNA, 88.2% for HHV-6 DNA, and 26.5% for VZV DNA; 17.5% of PD patients were HSV-1 DNA-positive and 75% HHV-6-positive, whereas 40% had VZV DNA. Twenty-five percent of the controls were positive for HSV-1 DNA, 87.5% for HHV-6, and 27.5% for VZV. HSV-1, VZV, or HHV-6 DNA in brains was no additional risk factor for AD.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.