Genetic Relics: How Ancient Viral DNA Could Accelerate Neurodegeneration

This study uncovers that activation of endogenous retroviruses affects prion-like spreading of proteopathic seeds. It supports that endogenous retroviruses play a role in protein misfolding diseases and suggest that antiviral drugs could represent promising candidates for inhibiting protein aggregate spreading.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-40632-z (open access)