Memory loss from West Nile virus may be preventable

[Cipher]

I stumbled upon this pretty interesting article recently that I thought might be interesting for some of you:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-01/wuso-mlf011618.php

Now, a new study in mice suggests that such ongoing neurological deficits may be due to unresolved inflammation that hinders the brain's ability to repair damaged neurons and grow new ones. When the inflammation was reduced by treatment with an arthritis drug, the animals' ability to learn and remember remained sharp after West Nile disease.

"It's almost like the brain gets caught in a loop that keeps IL-1 levels high and prevents it from repairing itself," said Klein, who is also a professor of neuroscience and of pathology and immunology.

.. Mice that were infected and treated with the IL-1 blocker learned just as quickly as mock-infected mice, indicating that blocking IL-1 protected the mice from memory problems.