Overwhelming Evidence for a Major Role for HSV1 in Alzheimer’s Disease (Ad)
ncbi.nlm.nih.govMaybe “Ad” in the title should be edited to “A.D.” it seems like there’s going to be an advertisement
This review describes investigations of specific topics that lie within the general subject of HSV1’s role in AD/dementia, published in the last couple of years. They include studies on the following: relationship of HSV1 to AD using neural stem cells; the apparent protective effects of treatment of HSV1 infection or of VZV infection with antivirals prior to the onset of dementia; the putative involvement of VZV in AD/dementia; the possible role of human herpes virus 6 (HHV6) in AD; the seemingly reduced risk of dementia after vaccination with diverse types of vaccine, and the association shown in some vaccine studies with reduced frequency of HSV1 reactivation; anti-HSV serum antibodies supporting the linkage of HSV1 in brain with AD in APOE-ε4 carriers, and the association between APOE and cognition, and association of APOE and infection with AD/dementia. The conclusions are that there is now overwhelming evidence for HSV1’s role—probably causal—in AD, when it is present in brain of APOE-ε4 carriers, and that further investigations should be made on possible prevention of the disease by vaccination, or by prolonged antiviral treatment of HSV1 infection in APOE-ε4 carriers, before disease onset.
ELI5?
The author of the publication suggests that herpes (HSV1, but also others) is a likely cause of dementia and Alzheimer’s. Especially in carriers of the APOE-4 gene.
Also speculates that taking antiviral treatments, even short courses, might delay or prevent the virus progressing from peripheral to central nervous system.
Thank you!
Cold sores give you Alzheimer's.
Maybe.
As far as I know, almost everybody gets cold sores. But Alzheimers is much, much rarer than that.