Underestimated virus impaired cognition-more evidence and more work to do

Neurodegenerative disorders (NDs) are chronic neurological diseases that can be of idiopathic, genetic, or potentially infectious origin. Although the exact cause of neurodegeneration is unknown, it might be result of a confluence of age, genetic susceptibility factors, and environmental stresses. T...

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Main Authors: Maher Un Nisa Awan, Faisal Mahmood, Xiao-bin Peng, Fenshuang Zheng, Jun Xu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1550179/full
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author Maher Un Nisa Awan
Faisal Mahmood
Xiao-bin Peng
Xiao-bin Peng
Fenshuang Zheng
Jun Xu
Jun Xu
author_facet Maher Un Nisa Awan
Faisal Mahmood
Xiao-bin Peng
Xiao-bin Peng
Fenshuang Zheng
Jun Xu
Jun Xu
author_sort Maher Un Nisa Awan
collection DOAJ
description Neurodegenerative disorders (NDs) are chronic neurological diseases that can be of idiopathic, genetic, or potentially infectious origin. Although the exact cause of neurodegeneration is unknown, it might be result of a confluence of age, genetic susceptibility factors, and environmental stresses. The blood-brain barrier shields the brain from the majority of viral infections, however neurotropic viruses are able to breach this barrier and infect central nervous system. Growing research points to a possible connection between viruses and neurodegenerative diseases, indicating that virus-induced neuroinflammation and disruption of neuronal protein quality control may play a role in the initial stages of disease progression. The diagnosis and treatment of NDs are urgent and challenging. Even though there is limited clinical evidence to support the use of antiviral medications and their dose regimens within the central nervous system (CNS), with the exception of acyclovir, they are currently utilized to treat various viral CNS infections. Understanding the neuropathogenesis of viral CNS infection may help with targeted diagnosis and treatment plans by focusing on the molecular mechanisms of the CNS. It may also be helpful in the search for new antiviral drugs, which are crucial for better managing these neurotropic viral infections. This review focuses on new findings linking viral infection to NDs and explores how viral modifications of cellular functions can impact the development of neurodegeneration and will also explore the therapeutic potential of antiviral drugs in NDs.
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spelling doaj-art-e09f6df8dd9e4c989622aac841017dad2025-08-20T01:51:14ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-05-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.15501791550179Underestimated virus impaired cognition-more evidence and more work to doMaher Un Nisa Awan0Faisal Mahmood1Xiao-bin Peng2Xiao-bin Peng3Fenshuang Zheng4Jun Xu5Jun Xu6Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University, Kunming, ChinaCentral Laboratory, Liver Disease Research Center and Department of Infectious Disease, The Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University, Kunming, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University, Kunming, ChinaSchool of Medicine, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, ChinaDepartment of Emergency, The Affiliated hospital of Yunnan University, Kunming, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University, Kunming, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, ChinaNeurodegenerative disorders (NDs) are chronic neurological diseases that can be of idiopathic, genetic, or potentially infectious origin. Although the exact cause of neurodegeneration is unknown, it might be result of a confluence of age, genetic susceptibility factors, and environmental stresses. The blood-brain barrier shields the brain from the majority of viral infections, however neurotropic viruses are able to breach this barrier and infect central nervous system. Growing research points to a possible connection between viruses and neurodegenerative diseases, indicating that virus-induced neuroinflammation and disruption of neuronal protein quality control may play a role in the initial stages of disease progression. The diagnosis and treatment of NDs are urgent and challenging. Even though there is limited clinical evidence to support the use of antiviral medications and their dose regimens within the central nervous system (CNS), with the exception of acyclovir, they are currently utilized to treat various viral CNS infections. Understanding the neuropathogenesis of viral CNS infection may help with targeted diagnosis and treatment plans by focusing on the molecular mechanisms of the CNS. It may also be helpful in the search for new antiviral drugs, which are crucial for better managing these neurotropic viral infections. This review focuses on new findings linking viral infection to NDs and explores how viral modifications of cellular functions can impact the development of neurodegeneration and will also explore the therapeutic potential of antiviral drugs in NDs.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1550179/fullneurodegenerationvirusantiviral drugsimpaired cognitiondementia
spellingShingle Maher Un Nisa Awan
Faisal Mahmood
Xiao-bin Peng
Xiao-bin Peng
Fenshuang Zheng
Jun Xu
Jun Xu
Underestimated virus impaired cognition-more evidence and more work to do
Frontiers in Immunology
neurodegeneration
virus
antiviral drugs
impaired cognition
dementia
title Underestimated virus impaired cognition-more evidence and more work to do
title_full Underestimated virus impaired cognition-more evidence and more work to do
title_fullStr Underestimated virus impaired cognition-more evidence and more work to do
title_full_unstemmed Underestimated virus impaired cognition-more evidence and more work to do
title_short Underestimated virus impaired cognition-more evidence and more work to do
title_sort underestimated virus impaired cognition more evidence and more work to do
topic neurodegeneration
virus
antiviral drugs
impaired cognition
dementia
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1550179/full
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