Roles of Reactive Oxygen Species in Relationships Between Viral Infections and Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia

Emerging evidence suggests that viral infections may contribute to the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other forms of dementia. Understanding the mechanism of viral involvement in the pathogenesis of AD and related dementia (ADRD) could contribute to reducing the burden caused by these conditions, which affect a large portion of the aging population. Some studies indicate the link between AD and viral infections, notably coronaviruses and herpesviruses. In AD, excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) results in the modifications of lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids, contributing to synaptic dysfunction and cognitive impairments. Experimental evidence suggests that viral infections linked to ADRD induce the cellular production of ROS, possibly contributing to the pathogenesis of these conditions. Despite significant advances in defining the roles of ROS in neurological disorders and viral infections, the specific roles of ROS in virus-associated ADRD have not been thoroughly investigated. The main objective of this review article is to comprehensively provide information on the experimental evidence for the production of ROS by viruses to help the readers investigate the role of ROS in the relationship between viral infections with ADRD.