Cold Sore – Alzheimer’s Connection

Some published studies suggest a causal role of the herpes simplex virus in the development of Alzheimer’s Disease. Hugo Lovheim, from Umea University (Sweden), and colleagues explored the possible connection via two large epidemiological studies.  In one study, which is based on the Betula project – a study on ageing, memory and dementia that involved 3,432 participants who were followed for 11.3 years on average, the researchers found that a reactivated herpes infection doubled the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Their separate study, in which samples, taken on average 9.6 years before diagnosis, which were donated to the Medical Biobank at Umea University from 360 people with Alzheimer’s disease were examined and compared with the same number of people who had not developed dementia, revealed an approximately doubled risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease if the person was a carrier of the herpes virus.  The study authors write that: “Among persons with a follow-up time of 6.6 years or more, [herpes simplex virus] infection was significantly associated with [Alzheimer’s Disease]”.