Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) is a ubiquitous DNA virus able to establish a life-long latent infection in host sensory ganglia. Following periodic reactivations, the neovirions usually target the site of primary infection causing recurrent diseases in susceptible individuals. However, reactivated HSV-1 may also reach the brain resulting in severe herpetic encephalitis or in asymptomatic infections. These have been reportedly linked to neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), suggesting antiviral preventive or/therapeutic treatments as possible strategies to counteract AD onset and progression. Here, we provide an overview of the AD-like mechanisms driven by HSV-1-infection in neurons and discuss the ongoing trials repurposing anti-herpetic drugs to treat AD as well as preventive strategies aimed at blocking virus infection.

单纯疱疹病毒 1 (HSV-1) 是一种普遍存在的 DNA 病毒，能够在宿主感觉神经节中建立终生潜伏感染。在周期性再激活之后，新病毒粒子通常靶向原发感染部位，导致易感个体复发疾病。然而，重新激活的 HSV-1 也可能到达大脑，导致严重的疱疹性脑炎或无症状感染。据报道，这些与阿尔茨海默病 (AD) 等神经退行性疾病有关，这表明抗病毒预防或/治疗是对抗 AD 发病和进展的可能策略。这里，