Discussion

Individuals who are seropositive for cytomegalovirus and other herpesviruses have often demonstrated deficits in several neurocognitive domains. This study sought to determine if CMV seropositive individuals also demonstrated differences in cortical thickness when compared to CMV seronegative individuals. All of the individuals included in this study were older adults. It appears that, in this age range, CMV does not influence cortical thickness. These results may indicate that there are some brief subclinical changes in the cortex that contribute to the neurocognitive deficits often seen in these individuals.
Further research should seek to increase sample size to determine if these results are consistent. It may be possible that this sample was too small to detect an effect. Many individuals in this study also tested positive for other toxic viruses that may better explain the differences or lack of differences demonstrated by this analysis. Future research should seek to determine if there are differences in the white matter or the subcortical structures of individuals with and without seropositivity for CMV. It may be that the neurocognitive differences are better explained by differences in these areas. 
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