Hepatitis E Virus Seroprevalence is Associated with Neurodegenerative Disorders in Older People with Dementia: A Case-Control Study

Abstract In this case-control study, we evaluated the association between serum antibodies against hepatitis E virus (HEV) and central nervous system (CNS) neurodegenerative disorders (NDs) in older people with dementia. The presence of anti-HEV antibodies was related to a higher adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of having CNS NDs by neuropathological diagnosis (aOR, 2.13; P = .007) and clinical/neuropathological diagnosis (1.84; P = .02). Besides, serum anti-HEV antibodies were directly related to neuropathological injury (higher vascular pathology [aOR, 1.97; P = .006]) and higher probability of Alzheimer-type pathology (1.84; P = .02). In conclusion, the presence of anti-HEV antibodies was related to higher odds of CNS NDs and neuropathological injury in older people. Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection can produce extrahepatic manifestations, including neurological disorders. We found that HEV seroprevalence was associated with central nervous system neurodegenerative disorders (mainly Alzheimer-type) and vascular pathology in the brains of older people. Graphical Abstract Graphical Abstract