Cytomegalovirus: An undervalued biological parameter of cognition in schizophrenia

Abstract

There is growing evidence that the brain is not an immune-privileged area, with central nervous system (CNS) cells being susceptible to inflammation as the brain responds to infection. Among the myriad of pathogens capable of infiltrating the neural environment, cytomegalovirus (CMV) has been one of the most extensively studied. Notably, CMV has been implicated in a range of neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia (SCZ). The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the impact of CMV on cognitive function in SCZ. Our review covers studies that explore the intersection of SCZ and CMV infection, thus establishing a theoretical framework for understanding the cognitive deficits associated with CMV. Recent findings regarding the SCZ-CMV relationship include: (1) the association of CMV with cognitive impairment, (2) CMV-related neuropathology and neuroimaging findings linked to the pathogenesis of cognitive deficits, and (3) therapeutic interventions for CMV in vivo. Given that no prior studies have explored the causal relationship between CMV biomarkers and cognitive features in SCZ, we have employed Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to further investigate these associations. Through this review, we aim to offer new insights into the pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of SCZ by exploring the relationship between CMV and SCZ.

Keywords: Cognitive impairment; Cytomegalovirus; Schizophrenia.