Does long-term herpes (HSV-1) infection worsen Alzheimer's in people with the APOE4 gene?
Investigating the role of long-term latent herpes simplex virus infection on APOE4-associated Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis
This work will see if lifelong herpes simplex (HSV-1) infection speeds memory loss and brain changes in people who carry the APOE4 Alzheimer's risk gene.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11374101 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers use mice engineered to carry the human APOE4 gene and long-term HSV-1 infection to track memory, brain inflammation, iron handling, and other Alzheimer-like changes over many months. They also use lab-grown brain cells to study the biological mechanisms behind any harmful effects they find. Findings will be compared across APOE types to understand whether the APOE4 gene makes the brain more vulnerable to latent HSV-1. The team hopes this combined animal and cellular approach will point to measurable pathways and potential treatment targets.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for clinical follow-up or related human research would be adults who carry the APOE4 gene and have a history or evidence of HSV-1 infection, including people with mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimer’s changes.
Not a fit: People who do not carry APOE4 or who have no evidence of HSV-1 infection may not benefit from findings that specifically target the APOE4–HSV-1 interaction.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If confirmed, this work could point to antiviral treatments or screening for HSV-1 as ways to slow or prevent Alzheimer’s progression in APOE4 carriers.
How similar studies have performed: Observational human studies and some animal work have suggested links between HSV-1 and Alzheimer’s, but long-term experimental models combining APOE4 and latent HSV-1 are relatively new.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nuriel, Tal — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Nuriel, Tal
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.