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The results suggest people with cold sore infections were more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease Alamy Stock Photo

Treating cold sores with anti-virals could help slash the risk of developing Alzheimer’s

A study found that people who had suffered the herpes virus had an 80% increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

TREATING COLD SORES with anti-viral medicines could help slash the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, research suggests.

Previous studies have found that the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) can lie dormant in human cells for a lifetime before “re-awakening”, leading to dementia symptoms.

Experts have discovered that HSV-1 causes changes that resemble those in the brains of dementia patients, such as amyloid plaque-like formations and inflammation.

Now, a large US study suggests that treating HSV-1 may be a route to lessening the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

Researchers, including from pharmaceutical firm Gilead Sciences and the University of Washington in Seattle, used data on 344,628 people with Alzheimer’s matched with the same number of people without the disease.

All were aged over 50 and the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s was made between 2006 and 2021.

A history of HSV-1 diagnosis was noted for 1,507 (0.44%) patients with Alzheimer’s, compared with 823 (0.24%) of those without.

Nearly two thirds (65%) of those with Alzheimer’s disease were women, with an average age of 73.

The study found that people who had suffered the herpes virus had an 80% increased risk of Alzheimer’s, even when other factors were taken into account.

But those with HSV-1 who used anti-virals to treat the virus were 17% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s compared with those who did not use the medicines.

Among the 2,330 people with a history of HSV-1 infection, 931 (40%) used anti-virals after their diagnosis.

The authors, writing in the journal BMJ Open, concluded: “Findings from this large… study implicate HSV-1 in the development of Alzheimer’s disease and highlight anti-herpetic therapies as potentially protective for Alzheimer’s and related dementia.”

In the UK, the drug aciclovir is one of those available for treating cold sores, chickenpox, shingles and other herpes virus infections.

The researchers also looked at the potential role of other herpes viruses, including HSV-2, varicella zoster virus (which causes chickenpox), and cytomegalovirus.

Both HSV-2 and varicella zoster virus infections were also associated with a heightened risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

Exactly how HSV-1 and other viruses might heighten the risk of dementia is not clear, point out the researchers.

“However, studies have shown that inflammatory alterations in the brain caused by HSV infection are pivotal in (Alzheimer’s disease) development,” they added.

HSV-1 DNA is also found in the plaques characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease, and people carrying the most common genetic risk factor for the disease are more susceptible to HSV infections, they said.

Professor Tara Spires-Jones, from the University of Edinburgh, said: “This is a well-conducted study adding to strong data in the field linking HSV-1 and other viral infections to increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, but it is important to note that HSV-1 infection, which is extremely common in the population, is by no means a guarantee that someone will develop Alzheimer’s.

“Why viral infections may increase risk of dementia is not fully understood, but the most likely explanation is that infections increase inflammation in the body and contribute to age-related brain inflammation.

“More research is needed to understand the best way to protect our brains from Alzheimer’s disease as we age, including a better understanding of links between viral infection and Alzheimer’s risk.”

Dr David Vickers, from the University of Calgary in Canada, said the “research exaggerates the role of HSV-1, failing to appreciate its absence in 99.56% of Alzheimer’s disease cases”.

He added: “The observed 17% hazard reduction with anti-herpetic drugs translates to a mere nine-month delay in Alzheimer’s disease onset.”

Dr Richard Oakley, director of research and innovation at the Alzheimer’s Society, said: “Results from this observational study suggested that people with recorded cold sore infections were more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, and interestingly those prescribed antiviral drugs had a slightly lower risk.

“But this doesn’t prove that cold sores cause Alzheimer’s disease, or that anti-virals prevent it.

“The data came from insurance records, often based on self-reported symptoms which may miss or misclassify infections, and didn’t track how often people had cold sores or how consistently they took medication.

“Much more research is needed to explore exactly how viruses might be involved and before we can draw firm conclusions.”

Dr Sheona Scales, director of research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, welcomed the study but said more research was needed.

“We know there are 14 established risk factors for dementia, and there’s not enough evidence to include infections in this list.

“This study doesn’t tell us if infections are causing the risk, it only shows an association. Further research is needed to understand what the underlying biology around this is.”

 

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    Mute Ollie Fitzpatrick
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    Nov 12th 2023, 8:40 PM

    Contributors should remember that it is a money diary and not an actual minute by minute account of your day. For instance no need for things like I took the dog for a walk, I milked the cows, I went to the gym etc etc. They are long and boring enough with no need to pad it out.

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    Mute Emer Daly
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    Nov 12th 2023, 8:57 PM

    @Ollie Fitzpatrick: I like hearing about people’s day to day though aswell as what they spend on.

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    Mute Ollie Fitzpatrick
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    Nov 12th 2023, 9:23 PM

    @Emer Daly: but it’s a daily money diary , not a daily blog! We have enough to worry about or gloat over in our own daily lives. Also how many are actually factual?

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    Mute Jason Memail
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    Nov 12th 2023, 9:56 PM

    @Ollie Fitzpatrick: “everything I don’t like is fake”

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    Mute Emer Daly
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    Nov 12th 2023, 10:30 PM

    @Ollie Fitzpatrick: I know but it’d be very short if it was only about money spent. I dunno but I look forward to these diaries.

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    Mute Maniac 2000
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    Nov 12th 2023, 11:13 PM

    @Ollie Fitzpatrick: the journal want information on what you do during the day. Makes it interesting and relatable

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    Mute
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    Nov 13th 2023, 12:11 AM

    @Ollie Fitzpatrick: Boring!

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    Mute Ryan O'Rourke'Glynn
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    Nov 13th 2023, 12:54 AM

    @Ollie Fitzpatrick: don’t read them then?

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    Mute offside again
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    Nov 12th 2023, 8:28 PM

    I spend as little as possible. I’m not mean, it’s just the way it was back when I was young. So it wouldn’t be an interesting diary ..
    There wasn’t such a variety of stuff to spend money on either.

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    Mute Ron Burgundy
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    Nov 13th 2023, 12:45 AM

    @offside again: there’s a lad on boards.ie that was due a free bottle of honey, cheap sh.te less that €2 and he drove to six different Lidls until he found one that had it in stock. Guy is all over freebies on every bargain alert thread, like a cheap suit. He got laughed out of it over there but I’d love to see his money diary here for the cringe factor laugh.

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    Mute
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    Nov 13th 2023, 1:59 AM

    @Ron Burgundy: there’s a big overlap of the r@tards from boards and the mong0s on the journal

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    Mute Antóin Ó Cumamothóin
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    Nov 12th 2023, 9:43 PM

    I was hoping to save up a few grand by next spring, but it’s looking uncertain now that my usual clientele have outsourced most escorting jobs to the Ukrainians.

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    Mute ubeenfamed
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    Nov 12th 2023, 8:22 PM

    Comment test . Comment test

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    Mute
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    Nov 12th 2023, 10:15 PM

    @ubeenfamed: One.. Two… One.. Two… I think we’re good Jim.

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    Mute Tommy Haze
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    Nov 12th 2023, 11:18 PM

    Make a budget at the start of the year then stick as close to it as you can.
    And remember..
    Every copper a prisoner.

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    Mute
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    Nov 13th 2023, 12:10 AM

    @Tommy Haze: Mind the pennies, and the pounds will take care of themselves, Tommy lad!

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    Mute S Badger
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    Nov 13th 2023, 8:04 AM

    I hope to go away this “spending season”. Don’t care where though, but wish to get away from this force fed spending atmosphere. I can barely keep the lights on, yet I work hard, full time. Call me a grinch, I can’t stand this time of year.

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    Mute
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    Nov 12th 2023, 10:27 PM

    There does be some right miserable feckers on this money diary thing wouldn’t spent a penny never see them buying drink or smokes or a big loan of scratch cards

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    Mute P.J. Nolan
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    Nov 13th 2023, 9:19 AM

    Ha ha but only someone who is tight with money would keep a money diary in the first place.
    Do you think someone who throws money around on drink, smokes and scratch cards would actually have the discipline to keep one?

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    Mute Rob Cahill
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    Nov 13th 2023, 10:59 AM

    I would honestly be too scared to do this.. I have no idea how much I spend a week and I don’t want to know either.

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    Mute
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    Nov 13th 2023, 8:03 PM

    I’m buying nothing. There you go. You’re welcome

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    Mute
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    Nov 13th 2023, 8:06 PM

    Is Jesus Birthday not spending season. Ssshh don’t mention religion lads

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