Cold sores may play role in Alzheimer’s development, new research reveals
Cold sores may play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study published in BMJ Open.
Researchers examined 344,628 «case-control pairs.» The pairs were matched in age, sex, geographical region and number of healthcare visits — but one had Alzheimer's disease and one did not.
Of the groups studied, 1,507 people with Alzheimer’s also had herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), which is the most common cause of cold sores. Only 823 people in the control group had HSV-1.
FIRST BLOOD TEST FOR ALZHEIMER’S DIAGNOSIS CLEARED BY FDA
Among these 2,330 people, 40% used anti-herpetic medication following their diagnosis.
Those who were treated for the virus were 17% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than those who didn’t use the treatments, the study found.
The risk of developing this form of dementia is known to rise with age. However, the chance of an HSV-1 diagnosis was 80% higher in those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, according to the research.
Less com..