Drug Discovery and Development

  • Home Drug Discovery and Development
  • Drug Discovery
  • Women in Pharma and Biotech
  • Oncology
  • Neurological Disease
  • Infectious Disease
  • Resources
    • Video features
    • Podcast
    • Voices
    • Views
    • Webinars
  • Pharma 50
    • 2025 Pharma 50
    • 2024 Pharma 50
    • 2023 Pharma 50
    • 2022 Pharma 50
    • 2021 Pharma 50
  • Advertise
  • SUBSCRIBE

Zika Virus Linked to Adult Brain Disorder

By Drug Discovery Trends Editor | April 12, 2016

The Zika Virus has become a public health fear due to its believed effects on pregnant women and their unborn children.

However, it is now linked to two adult brain disorders, and researchers are struggling to understand exactly how it causes dangerous autoimmune responses in some patients.

Zika is associated with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, or ADEM, according to a Brazilian team of doctors led by Maria Lucia Brito, a neurologist at Restoration Hospital in Recife.

The autoimmune response attacks the brain and spinal cord, according to a statement released by the American Academy of Neurology. 

“Though our study is small, it may provide evidence that in this case the virus has different effects on the brain than those identified in current studies,” said study author Maria Lucia Brito Ferreira, MD, with Restoration Hospital in Recife, Brazil. “Much more research will need to be done to explore whether there is a causal link between Zika and these brain problems.”

Zika has also been linked to another brain-affecting autoimmune syndrome, Guillain-Barre.

The doctors observed 151 cases of suspected Zika between December 2014 and 2015 in Brazil. Six of the cases became neurologically symptomatic – two of which were ADEM, and four of which were Guillain-Barre.

READ MORE: FDA Approves AbbVie’s Rare CLL Drug

“At present, it does not seem that ADEM cases are occurring at a similarly high incidence as the GBS cases, but these findings from Brazil suggest that clinicians should be vigilant for the possible occurrence of ADEM and other immune-mediated illnesses of the central nervous system,” said James Sejvar, a CDC doctor and member of the American Academy of Neurology. “Of course, the remaining question is ‘why’ – why does Zika virus appear to have this strong association with GBS and potentially other immune/inflammatory diseases of the nervous system?”

The Zika Virus is spread by two species of mosquito, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Both insects are native to Central and South America – and the territory of both extends into the southern half of the continental U.S. (the latter extends as far north as Minnesota and Maine).

Zika, originally discovery in 1947, doesn’t have severe health repercussions for the vast majority of those who are infected. Some 80 percent of persons infected are completely asymptomatic, and fatalities are rare. But the link between the virus and microcephaly cases has not been explored.

The virus is believed to cause a fetal deformation called microcephaly, when infants are born with smaller-than-usual brains.

Brazil health officials have reported nearly 4,000 cases of microcephaly recently – including as much as two percent of all newborns in its hardest-hit state, according to Reuters.

The CDC and other regional health officials are warning people who may potentially be susceptible to Zika – especially pregnant women – to take full precautions as the warmer weather of spring and summer approaches.

R&D 100 AWARD ENTRIES NOW OPEN:

Establish your company as a technology leader! For more than 50 years, the R&D 100 Awards have showcased new products of technological significance. You can join this exclusive community!  Learn more.


Filed Under: Drug Discovery

 

Related Articles Read More >

Sai Life Sciences exec: GLP-1 boom has ‘exploded the peptide field’ as firm opens new center
Novartis in the Pharma 50
Swissmedic approves first malaria treatment for infants
Korean team reports all-in-one cancer nanomedicine in pre-clinical studies
Nektar’s Phase 2b atopic dermatitis win triggers 1,746% analyst target surge, but legal tussle with ex-partner Lilly could complicate path forward
“ddd
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest news and trends happening now in the drug discovery and development industry.

MEDTECH 100 INDEX

Medtech 100 logo
Market Summary > Current Price
The MedTech 100 is a financial index calculated using the BIG100 companies covered in Medical Design and Outsourcing.
Drug Discovery and Development
  • MassDevice
  • DeviceTalks
  • Medtech100 Index
  • Medical Design Sourcing
  • Medical Design & Outsourcing
  • Medical Tubing + Extrusion
  • Subscribe to our E-Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • R&D World
  • Drug Delivery Business News
  • Pharmaceutical Processing World

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search Drug Discovery & Development

  • Home Drug Discovery and Development
  • Drug Discovery
  • Women in Pharma and Biotech
  • Oncology
  • Neurological Disease
  • Infectious Disease
  • Resources
    • Video features
    • Podcast
    • Voices
    • Views
    • Webinars
  • Pharma 50
    • 2025 Pharma 50
    • 2024 Pharma 50
    • 2023 Pharma 50
    • 2022 Pharma 50
    • 2021 Pharma 50
  • Advertise
  • SUBSCRIBE