The HerpBioMA project explores the link between the brain lesions characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease and the Herpes Simplex 1 virus (HSV-1). This project, based on data from the B cube cohort, aims to understand early pathophysiological mechanisms in order to act before the development of clinical symptoms and improve early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease.
It is characterized by brain lesions that evolve over time, appearing many years before the first clinical symptoms appear.

 

A growing number of clues suggest a link between Alzheimer’s disease and herpes viruses, in particular Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV-1).

 

These viruses, which have the particularity of establishing a latency period in the body and then reactivating periodically, notably when immunity drops, could migrate into the central nervous system and trigger or contribute to the onset of Alzheimer’s disease lesions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The HerpBioMA project, developed from the B cube cohort, aims to study the impact of HSV-1 infection on the major lesions of Alzheimer’s disease (β-amyloid protein, hyperphosphorylated Tau protein, markers of neuroinflammation), taking into account the various susceptibility factors that can influence the development of these lesions in infected individuals, including genetic factors and markers of immune and inflammatory status.

The ultimate aim of this project is to understand the pathophysiological mechanisms impacted by HSV-1 infection.

 

 

 

Funding for the HerpBioMA project comes from AXA Mutuelles’ 2025-2027 healthcare sponsorship program.

This program plans to support 14 new healthcare projects led by 11 French institutions to a value of 13.9 million euros over 3 years.
The aim is to “support innovative, high-impact projects to enable significant advances in terms of research, prevention, early identification and care, in favor of young people and the elderly.”

 

Of the 14 projects supported, 4 benefit the elderly, including the HerpBioMA project.