Abstract Details

Title Herpes Simplex Virus 2 Serology Is Associated with Thinner Whole-brain Cortex in Community-dwelling Older Adults

Topic Aging, Dementia, and Behavioral Neurology

Presentation(s) P1 - Poster Session 1 (8:00 AM-9:00 AM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 9-017

Background The contribution of lifetime infectious disease exposures to risk of dementia and brain has re-emerged as an area of interest in recent years. Prior work in the Northern Manhattan Study (NOMAS) identified impaired cognition in cross-sectional analyses and more rapid memory decline in individuals with evidence of prior common infectious disease exposures.

Objective The primary purpose of this study was to identify the association between common infectious disease exposures and radiographic features of brain aging in a community-dwelling sample of older adults.

Design/Methods In this study, we sought to determine the cross-sectional relationship between prior exposure to cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2, Chlamydia pneumoniae, and Helicobacter pylori and three magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signatures (whole-brain cortical thickness, a previously validated AD signature, and hippocampal volume) in 455 NOMAS participants who were without evidence of dementia at time of enrollment. We performed confounder-adjusted linear regression analyses between neuroimaging scores and both continuous serologies and categorical seropositivity of each pathogen, as well as a combined infectious burden index (IBI).

Results We identified that increased serologic titers of herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) were associated with reduced whole-brain cortical thickness across fully-adjusted models, and a combined score of HSV-2 and C. pneumoniae displayed an additive effect on reduced cortical thickness.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest herpes simplex virus 2 seropositivity may contribute to accelerated brain aging, possibly resulting in an increased vulnerability to cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative disease in aging populations.

Authors/Disclosures
Jackson A. Roberts, MD PRESENTER	Mr. Roberts has nothing to disclose.
Mitchell S. Elkind, MD, MS, FAAN	Dr. Elkind has received personal compensation for serving as an employee of American Heart Association. Dr. Elkind has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving as a Consultant for Atria Academy. The institution of Dr. Elkind has received research support from BMS-Pfizer Alliance for Eliquis. The institution of Dr. Elkind has received research support from Roche. Dr. Elkind has received publishing royalties from a publication relating to health care. Dr. Elkind has a non-compensated relationship as a Officer with American Heart Association that is relevant to AAN interests or activities.
Minghua Liu	No disclosure on file
Clinton B. Wright, MD, FAAN (NINDS)	An immediate family member of Dr. Wright has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving as an Editor, Associate Editor, or Editorial Advisory Board Member for Elsevier. An immediate family member of Dr. Wright has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving as an Expert Witness for MARSHALL DENNEHY. The institution of an immediate family member of Dr. Wright has received research support from Oncospace. Dr. Wright has received publishing royalties from a publication relating to health care. An immediate family member of Dr. Wright has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a surveyor with ASTRO.
Tatjana Rundek, MD, PhD	The institution of Dr. Rundek has received research support from NIH.
Jose Gutierrez, MD (Columbia University)	Dr. Gutierrez has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as an Expert Witness for Roetzel & Andress, JOHN ASTUNO, JR. L.L.C.. The institution of Dr. Gutierrez has received research support from NIH. Dr. Gutierrez has received publishing royalties from a publication relating to health care. Dr. Gutierrez has received publishing royalties from a publication relating to health care.