Cold Sore Virus Leaves People at Far Higher Risk of Alzheimer’s, Study Suggets

Researchers have found that the herpes virus, which causes Cold Sores, Alzheimer’s Increas Risk by as Much As 80% by Looking at Medical Records of Over 300,000 Americans

People Who Get a Cold Sore Appear to Be at 80% GREATER RISK OF DEVELOPING ALZHEIMER’S, RESEARCH SHOWS.

Scientists bend a huge Study into how viruses COULD INCREASE The risk of dementia in late Life also found treating Cold Sores with Antivirals COULD LOWER THIS RISK. Previous studies have found that the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) Can Lie Dormant in Human Cells for A LifeMetim Before “Re-Wakening”, Leading to Dementia Symptoms. Researchers, Including from Pharmaceutical Firm Gilead Sciences and the University of Washington in Seattle, Used the Medical Records of 344,628 Americans with Alzheimer’s and Matched with the People with Disease.

The Study, Published in the Journal Bmj Open, Found that People Who Had Suffered the Herpes Virus Had an 80% Incresed Risk of Alzheimer’s, Hent Other Factors Were takeen into Account. But Those with HSV-1 Who Used Anti-Virals to Treat the Virus Were 17% Less Likely to Develops Alzheimer’s Compared with Those Who Did The Medicines.

Author Dr Yunhao Liu, of Gilead, Said: “Findings from this Large … Study Implicate HSV-1 in the Development of Alzheimer’s Disease and Highlight Anti-Herpetic Therapies as Potentially Protective for Alzheimer’s and Related dementia.”

The researchers also look at the potential role of Other Herpes Viruses, Including HSV-2, Varicella Zoster Virus (Which Causes Chickenpox), and Cytomegalovirus. Both HSV-2 and Varicella zoster virus infctions were also Associated with a smaller heigened risk of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Dr. Sheona Scales, Research Director at Alzheimer’s Research UK, Said: “There’s an Increasing Amount of Evidency that Suggests Our Body’s Response to Countin Could Put at AN INCREED RISK OF DEVELOPING ALZHEIMER’ From A Large Study USSING USE HEALTH RECORDS PROPOSE THAT HSV-1-A Common virus that causes Cold Sores-May Be Associated with an Increas Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease. Risk, but this is still very early work and needs more investigation. ”

Experts have previously discovered that hsv-1 causes changes that resemble those in the brains of dementia patients, suc amyloid plaqua-like formations and inflammation. In the new Study All Participants were aged over 50 and the diagnosis of alzheimer’s was made between 2006 and 2021.

A History of HSV-1 Diagnosis Was Noted for 1,507 (0.44%) Patients with Alzheimer’s, Compared with 823 (0.24%) of Those Without. Some 65% of Those With Alzheimer’s Disase Were Women, with an average age of 73. In the UK, the Drug Aciclovir is one of Those Avilaable for Treating Cold Sores, Chickenspox, Shingles and Other Herpes Virus Infections.

The researchers admit that exactly How HSV-1 and Other Viruses Might Heighten the risk of dementia is not clear. Dr. LIU Added: “Howver, studies have shown that inflammatory alterations in the brain caused by HSV infection are pivotal in (Alzheimer’s Disease) Development.”

Professor Tara Spines-Jones, from the University of Edinburgh, Said: “This is a well-conduated Study Adding to Strong Date in the Field Linking HSV-1 and Other Viral Increses to Increas Risk of Developing Alzheimer’s Disease, But Is Important to Note Infecation. Extremely Common in the Population, is by no means a guarantee that someone will Develop Alzheimer’s.

“Why viral infctions may increes risk of dementia is not fully understood, but the most likes explanation is that infctions Increase inflammation in the body and controlbuilding to age-related brain inflammation. Alzheimer’s Disease As we age, including a better understanding of links between viral infection and alzheimer’s risk. “