Common disease associated with higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease

Talk about a sore topic.

New research suggests that an ordinary viral infection that intercepted in as much as 8 out of 10 Americans can increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

But there is a glow-scientists believe that antiviral treatments can help protect individuals infected from the development of the memory that destroys memory.

Alzheimer, the most common form of dementia, affects about 7.2 million Americans aged 65 and older, according to Alzheimer’s Association.

While scientists have not marked a single cause for progressive brain disorder, factors such as age, genetics, lifestyle choices and basic health conditions can increase the risk.

A new basic study published on Tuesday has revealed another factor that can play a major role in the development of Alzheimer’s: a symptomatic infection with the virus after cold wounds, herpes Simplex 1 (HSV-1).

The researchers combed through health registers worth 15 years, analyzing data from about 345,000 pairs of patients with and without Alzheimer.

As expected, the risk of Alzheimer’s development increased with age. People with disease also had 80% more likely to have an HSV-1 diagnosis.

Researchers also examined the potential role of other herpes viruses, including HSV-2, Varicella Zoster and Cytomegalovirus. They found that the first two infections were associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s development.

Herpes infections are extremely common.

Between 50% and 80% of US adults hold HSV-1 (Herpes oral), while HSV-2 (genital herpes) affects 1 in 6 Americans aged 14 to 49, according to Johns Hopkins medicine.

These viral infections spread through intimate person-in-person contact.

Kissing or oral sex can transmit HSV-1, while HSV-2 is spread through vaginal, anal or oral sex. A virus infected mother can also pass her baby during childbirth.

“These findings place an even greater emphasis on looking at the prevention of herpes viruses as advantages of public health,” the study’s authors said.

Exactly how HSV-1 and other neurotropic viruses can increase the risk of dementia remains unclear.

However, researchers noted that previous studies have shown inflammatory changes in the brain, caused by infection, play a crucial role in the development of Alzheimer’s.

For example, inflammation can contribute to the formation and creation of amiloid plaques and neurofibrillar tangles, distinctive traits of the disease. Inflammation can also damage neurons, damaging their function and disrupting communication between brain cells.

But there is a silver lining: antiviral treatment seems to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s in people with a history of HSV-1 infection.

In the study, among 2,330 people with a history of HSV-1 infection, 40% used antiherpetic drugs after their diagnosis. They were 17% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s than those who did not use the treatments.

“While molecular mechanisms remain fully clarified, these results are indicative of a possible role for antiherpetic therapy in alleviating the risk of dementia,” the study authors concluded.

Alzheimer is the seventh cause of death among American adults, with the average patient living four to eight years after diagnosis.

A cure has not been identified, but treatments and interventions can help slow down the progression of the disease and improve the quality of life.

In 2020 alone, Alzheimer cost the US about $ 305 billion – and this figure is expected to increase significantly in the coming decades.

With the number of Americans living with the continuous growing disease, scientists predict that 13.8 million will have Alzheimer’s by 2050, or 16% of the American population over the age of 65.