Award
National Institute on Aging 5R01AG085406-02
Pathogenic exosomes during herpes zoster mediate increased vascular dementia risk
Recipient
University of Colorado Denver
Award Amount
$613,158.00
Ceiling
$613,158.00
Awarded
July 29, 2025
Identifier
5R01AG085406-02
This award funds research on how exosomes during herpes zoster contribute to vascular dementia risk, aiming to influence clinical practices and vaccination strategies.
Description
Understanding how persistent, pathogenic exosomes promote cerebrovascular disease during and after zoster, thereby accelerating vascular dementia risk, is significant because it will potentially change clinical practice with regards to duration of antiviral therapy and use of anti-platelet agents for zoster, as well as increase support for vaccination to prevent rash and stroke, as well as to decrease vascular dementia risk. Furthermore, our findings will serve as a model for how other pathogens can have long-lasting effects at sites remote from regions of infection and stimulate further research on the biological consequences of pathogen-associated exosomes and potential therapeutics, including agents that block exosome release and fusion.