Role of Mind-Altering Herpesviruses in Major Depression
Major depression is as much neurobiological as it is psychological. And certain viruses invade and disrupt neurobiological processes in the brain.
As one of the leading causes of disability and suicide worldwide, major depression is arguably the worst disease you can get, for it crushes the soul, so to speak.
Major depression, clinically known as major depressive disorder (MDD), refers to depressive symptoms severe enough to impair daily activities. It’s different from sadness or loosely used depression as an expression of sadness. Various factors contribute to major depression, including lifestyle, genetic, and environmental factors. And our environment comprises viruses, some of which can invade the brain, causing neurological dysfunction that may underlie major depression.
In this article, I’ll describe four herpesviruses involved in major depression in the available literature to date. Herpesviruses are unique due to their ability to establish latency (dormant state) in certain cells in the body permanently once infected. Latent herpesviruses may then reactivate in later life to cause disease, especially under physical or psychological stress conditions.
