People infected with the herpes virus are twice as likely to develop dementia as others, according to a new study.
- 3.7 billion people under the age of 50 worldwide are infected with the Herpes simplex virus type 1, which causes cold sores.
- A Swedish study confirms that this virus doubles the risk of developing dementia as we age.
- For researchers, their discovery should prompt study of the possibility of treating dementia using anti-herpes drugs.
Herpes simplex virus (HSV), known as herpes, is one of the most common infections. The WHO estimates that 3.7 billion people under the age of 50 (67%) worldwide are infected with Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), the main cause of cold sores.
If what we commonly call cold sores are generally not serious for adults, they are not without long-term consequences, according to a study from Uppsala University. This Swedish work reveals that people who contracted the herpes virus during their lives had a greater risk of developing dementia compared to others.
Herpes labialis: twice the risk of dementia
For this study published in the journal Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease on February 13, 2024, researchers followed 1,000 septuagenarians from Uppsala over a period of 15 years. Analysis of the data showed that participants who had contracted the herpes simplex virus were twice as likely to develop dementia as those who had never been affected by it.
“The particularity of this study is that the participants are approximately the same age, which makes the results even more reliable, because age differences, otherwise linked to the development of dementia, cannot confound the results”explains Dr Erika Vestin from Uppsala University in a communicated.
The work carried out thus confirms the results of previous studies which had highlighted a link between herpes and cognitive disorders. “More and more evidence is emerging from studies that, like our findings, point to the herpes simplex virus as a risk factor for dementia”continues Dr. Vestin.
Neurodegeneration and cold sores: a new avenue of research
For the team, their work should lead to studying in more detail whether drugs, already known against the herpes simplex virus, can reduce the risk of cognitive disorders. “The findings could push dementia research to treat the disease at an early stage using common anti-herpes medications or to prevent the disease before it occurs”adds Dr Erika Vestin.
Once in the body, the herpes virus remains “asleep” in a nerve ganglion in the affected area during the primary infection. Several factors such as fatigue, stress, periods or another infection can cause it to multiply again along the nerves and cause lesions in or around the mouth or on the lips. So, pimples appear and disappear over the course of life. Many people have no symptoms related to their infection.
