Review Paper:
The Role of Comorbidities
and Viral Infections on Alzheimer's Disease Progression and Mortality Risk
Sharma Tara D., Sharma Ravi Kumar and Sharma Sudhir
Res. J. Biotech.; Vol. 20(6); 200-207;
doi: https://doi.org/10.25303/206rjbt2000207; (2025)
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurological condition that affects cognitive
function and daily activities. While the disease itself is rarely recognized as
a direct cause of death, its consequences and comorbidities contribute to a greater
mortality rate among those affected. This study aimed impact of comorbidities and
viral infection on mortality. Many patients also have comorbidities such as cardiovascular
disease, diabetes, stroke and depression. These comorbid disorders may complicate
AD management while also contributing to an increased death risk.
This review compiles the available literature on the role of comorbidities in AD
mortality. We searched how these variables accelerate disease development, affect
life expectancy and contribute to mortality disparities among AD patients. The findings
imply that whereas chronic comorbidities gradually deteriorate the prognosis, acute
viral infections result in fast health decline and considerably raise death risk,
particularly in advanced AD stages. This review also explained how virus infects
neurons at numerous phases including how it enters, travels to and establishes latency
in neuronal cells. We discuss the impact of viruses on cognitive function including
putative viral invasion routes and underlying mechanisms for cognitive impairment.
