Ancient Virus May Cause Crippling Disease ALS, Study Finds
by Maggie Fox - NBC, Health - Oct. 1, 2015
Excerpts:
A virus that infected people millions of years ago may be coming back to life in the form of ALS, killing nerve cells and causing their fatal symptoms, government scientists reported Thursday. . . .
. . . The virus is called HERV-K, and it incorporated itself — permanently — into the human genome between 2 and 5 million years ago. It's a human endogenous retrovirus — an example of nature's own genetic engineering. . . .
. . . some patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease) showed evidence of retrovirus activity in their blood.
Nath's team examined ALS patients and found that in some, HERV-K was elevated. More tests showed the entire virus had come to life in these patients. . . .
. . . "When you treat them with anti-HIV drugs, they get better." . . . .
[Full article at link above.] -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Retroviruses are potentially scary things. We don't know a whole lot about them.
Unlike XMRV, which was a purported exogenous murine RV, this and other endogenous retroviruses are embedded in us. We are born with them.
A question that comes to mind, if the speculation in this study has any credence, is what agent is causing this RV to "reanimate" and turn on its hosts?
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Keebler
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- Good point that there are many triggers that can activate dormant infections - the article states that some patients in their study had HIV before ALS developed, for instance.
That is seen with lyme patients quite a lot - as often one infection can trigger another, even multiple [although with lyme, ticks can transmit so many with one bite, too].
Other triggers: something like a fall or accident, too. Other stressors, etc.
Seems like any damage can be a trigger.
another article excerpt:
". . . It's not clear what's activating the virus. Chemicals such as formaldehyde can raise the risk of ALS and so can physical trauma. . . ." -
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Aside from this article, for those new to lyme, etc. there have been various cases of MISDIAGNOSED ALS that turned out to be primarily lyme (though coinfections usually also involved).
ALS is not lyme, to be clear, but lyme can be the root of a misdiagnosis. There have been several cases of people being (mis)diagnosed as having ALS but then when lyme / TBD discovered and treated, the ALS symptoms / diagnosis just fell away.
Similar things for some with (mis)diagnosed MS or Parkinson's (not for all but for some).
Of course, if the ALS was not a misdiagnose but only part of the full picture and lyme / TBD there in addition, that's a more complex path.
After reading this article, it would be wise to consider that lyme / tick borne stealth infections could also trigger various other infections in the body.
But, then, most ILADS LLMDs and LL NDs have been thinking this for many years. And just one more reason why there is no set treatment course that is right for everyone. It's all very personal, indeed. -
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