Herpes virus can lead to bipolar disorder and depression

Scientists have discovered HHV-6 in neurons in bipolar disorder, depression.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), about 4.4% of Americans have bipolar disorder at some point in their lives; 16.2 million others (about 6.7%) adults experience at least one major depression at some point in their lives.

While the exact cause is unknown, scientists still believe that both genes and the environment play a role in causing these mental states. Medical News Today presents evidence, a recent study identified 44 gene loci that are thought to increase the risk of depression.

HHV-6 can infect brain cells, causing cognitive disorders and moods.(Photo: SHUTTERSTOCK).

Other research suggests that 80% of the risk of schizophrenia may be due to genes. Meanwhile, research published in Frontiers in Microbiology highlights the fact that environmental factors such as viruses can be the driving force behind these disorders.

From this viewpoint, a group of international scientists led by Bhupesh Prusty (Department of Microbiology at the University of Würzburg, Germany) studied and discovered that in the brains of bipolar disorder and depression There is a group of neurons called Purkinje cells infected with Herpes HHV-6 virus.

So how can HHV-6 cause depression, bipolar disorder?

The team began with the hypothesis that HHV-6A and HHV-6B could lead to the development of mental disorders. So they examined two brain biopsy groups from the Stanley Medical Research Institute (USA). Findings show that HHV-6 can infect brain cells, causing cognitive disorders and moods.

Bhupesh Prusty said: "We found active transmission of HHV-6 primarily in human brain Purkinje cells in most patients with depressive and bipolar disorders. Long-standing inheritance factors It is known to increase the risk of developing some types of mental disorders including bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder and schizophrenia, but environmental factors such as viruses can also contribute to this process'.

Prusty also explained that this result contradicts the belief that latent viruses - that is, inactive viruses, lie dormant in organs and tissues - completely harmless.

Earlier, evidence of Herpes virus could cause other neurological conditions. For example, a study that Medical News Today recently published found "strong evidence" Herpes virus HHV-6A and HHV-7 can cause Alzheimer's disease.

Prusty and his team will continue the plan to study molecular mechanisms to explain exactly how HHV-6A destroys Purkinje cells, and how this leads to psychosis.

Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) is a pair of closely related viruses known as HHV-6A and HHV-6B .

The neuron Purkinje is responsible for regulating motor nerves in the cerebellar cortex - the brain region responsible for controlling movement, muscle, balance and posture. Some studies also show that this brain region is associated with language, cognition and mood.