December 2015 (Medical News Today)
Article
Hepatitis C is a contagious liver disease caused by the hepatitis Cvirus (HCV), which is most commonly transmitted through contact with blood from an infected person, primarily through the sharing of needles.
Study coauthor Dr. Chia-Hung Kao, of China Medical University Hospital in Taiwan, and colleagues note that previous research has suggested HCV is neurotropic – meaning it can infect nerve cells, or neurons – and can replicate in the central nervous system.
Furthermore, the researchers point to a recent study that claimed HCV can trigger death of neurons that secrete the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is believed to be a key contributor to Parkinson’s disease.