Herpes may play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s diseaseaccording to a new study published at BMJ Open.
The researchers looked at 344,628 “case control pairs.” The pair matched age, gender, geographical region, and number of healthcare visits, but one had Alzheimer’s disease and was not.
Of the groups surveyed, 1,507 people with Alzheimer’s disease also carry Simplexvirus type 1 (HSV-1). This is the most common cause. Herpes. Only 823 people in the control group had HSV-1.
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Of these 2,330 people, 40% used anti-herpetics after diagnosis.
Those treated for the virus were 17% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease This study was found more than those who did not use treatment.
The analysis “has a greater emphasis on viewing prevention of herpes virus as a public health priority,” the researchers said in a press release. (istock)
The risk of developing this form of dementia is known to increase with age. However, studies show that the likelihood of HSV-1 diagnosis was 80% higher for those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
Although less common, it can be caused by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2).
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The analysis “has a greater emphasis on viewing herpes virus prevention as a public health priority,” the researchers said. press release.
whole, The women have composed 65% of Alzheimer’s disease. Their average age was 73 years old, and they tended to have more coexistence conditions. This was all a risk factor.
Of the groups surveyed, 1,507 people with Alzheimer’s disease also had HSV-1, while only 823 people in the control group had HSV-1. (istock)
The study also observed potential roles for other herpes viruses, some of which were associated with increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
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Specific connections between Viruses like HSV-1 The increased risk of dementia is not clear, researchers noted.
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“However, studies have shown that inflammatory changes in the brain caused by HSV infection are extremely important. [Alzheimer’s disease] They said in the release.
Treatment with antiviral therapy “suggests that HSV-1 treatment may be protective,” the study states.
It is not clear how HSV-1 and similar viruses can accurately increase the risk of dementia, researchers point out. (istock)
“There is no cure for herpes, but treatment can help manage outbreaks,” according to Mayo Clinic.
“prescription Antiviral drugs Or creams can help the pain heal faster. And they may have frequent future outbreaks, shorter and less serious. ”
Potential limitations
The study had several limitations, the researchers acknowledged.
“Because of limited data history, HSV-1 infection before a patient’s database entry is not included in the analysis, and there may be some overlap between the diagnosis of HSV-1 and HSV-2,” the researchers said.
An estimated two-thirds of people under the age of 50 are infected with HSV-1, but data on symptomatic infections is limited. (istock)
“In addition, many individuals with HSV-1 infection are asymptomatic and others may not seek it. medical care During recurrence, and therefore clinically diagnosed and not recorded in the database. ”
An estimated two-thirds of people under the age of 50 are infected with HSV-1, but data on symptomatic infections is limited.
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Lack of diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease can also distort results.
Fox News Digital has requested comment from researchers and other physicians.
