A groundbreaking study has unveiled a potential link between Human Pegivirus (HPgV) and Parkinson’s disease, suggesting the virus, long regarded as harmless, might play a role in the neurodegenerative condition. Researchers from Northwestern Medicine found HPgV in the brains and spinal fluid of individuals with Parkinson’s, with the virus present in five out of ten patient brains but absent in healthy controls. This discovery challenges decades of assumptions about HPgV and could pave the way for new treatments targeting viruses or the immune system. The study, published in JCI Insight, examined post-mortem brain tissue from Parkinson’s patients and individuals who died of other causes, revealing HPgV’s presence in all five affected cases. Additionally, the virus was detected in spinal fluid, indicating possible activity within the nervous system. Patients with HPgV showed more advanced brain changes associated with Parkinson’s, including protein buildup and altered brain chemistry.
The researchers also found immune system changes linked to the virus in blood samples from over 1,000 participants. Notably, those with a specific genetic mutation linked to Parkinson’s responded differently to HPgV, suggesting an environmental factor influencing the disease’s progression. While the study raises the possibility of a link between viral exposure and Parkinson’s, experts emphasize the need for larger, long-term studies to confirm the connection. The findings could help explain why some individuals develop Parkinson’s while others do not, potentially leading to new therapeutic strategies. Parkinson’s, the second most common brain disorder after Alzheimer’s, affects over a million Americans, with incidence rates projected to rise significantly by 2030. The Northwestern team plans to expand their research to explore the prevalence of HPgV in Parkinson’s patients versus healthy individuals and to investigate the potential involvement of other viruses. These insights may ultimately reveal how Parkinson’s begins and guide future treatments.