Study: Herpes could increase risk of dementia
- People with HSV may have double the risk of dementia
- HSV-1, which causes cold sores, is most linked to the dementia
- The relationship between the conditions is unclear
HSV: Herpes virus. HSV is the cause of cold sores, genital herpes, chickenpox, infectious mononucleosis, roseola, sometimes shingles. they are involved in certain cancers, including Burkitt’s lymphoma. View produced from a transmission electron microscopy image. Viral diameter approximately: 200 nm. (Photo by: CAVALLINI JAMES/BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
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(NewsNation) — Herpes simplex virus (HSV) may indicate whether a person is more likely to develop dementia, new research shows.
A study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease suggests people diagnosed with herpes may have a doubled risk of dementia as older patients, adding to the scientific literature linking the virus to cognitive performance.
HSV-1 is most associated with a risk of developing dementia, although it’s unclear how the two are linked, according to Medical News Today.
There are two types of HSV: HSV-1, which causes oral herpes and cold sores, and HSV-2, which causes genital herpes.
Globally, about 3.7 billion people younger than 50 have HSV-1.
HSV-2, spread by sexual contact, affects about 491 million people between the ages of 15 and 49 globally, according to the World Health Organization.
Dementia is a general term that encompasses difficulties with memory, language, problem-solving and other thinking abilities, including Alzheimer’s, which is the most common cause of dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.