• NEWS

Massive health-record review links viral illnesses to brain disease

Study ties common viruses such as flu to Alzheimer’s and other conditions — but the analysis has limitations, researchers warn.
By
  1. Max Kozlov
Access through your institution
Buy or subscribe

An analysis of about 450,000 electronic health records has found a link between infections with influenza and other common viruses and an elevated risk of having a neurodegenerative condition such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease later in life. But researchers caution that the data show only a possible connection, and that it’s still unclear how or whether the infections trigger disease onset.

Access options

Access through your institution

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Learn more

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Nature 614, 18-19 (2023)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-023-00181-3

References

  1. Levine, K. S. et al. Neuron https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2022.12.029 (2023).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Jamieson, G. A., Maitland, J. J., Wilcock, G. K., Craske, J. & Itzhaki, R. F. J. Med. Virol. 33, 224–227 (1991).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Bjornevik, K. et al. Science 375, 296–301 (2022).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Swaddiwudhipong, N. et al. J. Alz. Assoc. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.12802 (2022).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Subjects

Latest on:

Nature Careers

Jobs

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing