Dr. Andrew Bubak's lab focuses on understanding how a virus linked to chickenpox and shingles, called the varicella zoster virus (VZV), may increase the risk of vascular dementia by causing inflammation and damage to blood vessels. They study the role of tiny vesicles called exosomes, which carry inflammatory proteins and persist in the body long after shingles symptoms have disappeared. This research may lead to new treatments and vaccines to reduce dementia risk associated with this virus.