Expert: Ivan Goldberg, M.D. - 1/28/2009

Question
Dr Goldberg,

I came across your website and this website through my research into the
Borna Virus.  I'm 26 years old, and for the past five years, I've been suffering
with cognitive impairment and resulting anxiety and depression.  My
symptoms started seemingly out of nowhere; in a blink of an eye, I went from
graduating with over a 4.0 at Cornell University, being a happy-go-lucky kid,
and having not much of a care in the world, to someone who has trouble
reading, formulating thoughts and sentences (verbal and written), and has
severe stress and, at times, pretty sever depression as a result.  I've seen
neurologists, psychiatrists, and most recently, a Lyme disease expert.  I've
had MRIs and EEGs done, all of which were unremarkable.  Moreover, I've
been put on anti-anxiety meds, anti-depressants, migraine, and ADD meds,
none of which were able to solve my cognitive problems.  

Today I write to you on antibiotics for the treatment of Lyme disease, despite
the Lyme tests coming back negative (the doctor said Lyme tests have a high
false negative rate, and thus, I may still have Lyme's disease regardless of the
negative test results), and Amandadine, for the treatment of Borna Virus,
which I was diagnosed with about three weeks ago by a laboratory in
Germany.  

That long history aside, my questions are as follows:  What is your "non"-
professional opinion (see disclaimer at bottom of page) with respect to (1) the
existence of the Borna Virus in humans, (2) Borna Virus being the cause of
depression, anxiety, and/or cognitive impairment, and (3) the use of
Amandadine to treat the Borna Virus, assuming you believe it exists in
humans and causes any or all of the ailments provided above?  Oh and also,
are you, or do you someone that is, like Dr. House on the TV show "House,"
because I live near your office and I could really use someone like that...

Thanks a bunch, in advance, for your help!

Regards,

M  

Answer
Hi Melvin . . .

Borna has been something that has been of interest to me since 1985 when I first read about the possibility that it plays a role in the etiology or possibly more accurately the pathophysiology of some psychiatric disorders. Of great frustration to mer has been the unavailability of accurate Borna testing in this country. If you happen to have run across a lab that offers the test commercially PLEASE let me know about it.

As you probably know amantadine is a substance with multiple actions and uses and in addition to its antiviral properties it is a mild stimulant and like most stimulants it has some antidepressant activity.

While I cannot diagnose Borna infection in my patients I have treated a few with amantadine with less than spectacular results. Some people have shown some reduction in depression and an improvement in cognitive functioning but by what mechanism that result was achieved I cannot state. Also as you probably know depression can result in such severe impairments in cognitive functioning that a state resembling dementia can result. Of course people aware of cognitive slippage can become depressed.

In any case, if you are interested in seeing me for an evaluation I would be happy to see you.

Best regards . . .

Ivan
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