People hospitalized with viral infections like the flu are more likely to have disorders that degrade the nervous system, like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, later in life, a new analysis shows.
Researchers found 22 links between viruses and common neurological conditions often seen in older people. The viruses included influenza, encephalitis, herpes, hepatitis, pneumonia, meningitis, and shingles. Those viruses were linked to one or more of these conditions: Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), dementia, and multiple sclerosis.
The authors of the study, which was published this month in the journal Neuron , cautioned that their findings stopped short of saying the viruses caused the disorders.
To read the rest of the article, please click here: Flu, Other Common Viruses Linked to Neurologic Conditions (medscape.com)
