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Herpes on lips increases risk of developing Alzheimer's
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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Cold sores caused by the herpes virus type 1 increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease in the future - such a conclusion was made by a group of specialists at one of the Swiss universities. When infected with the herpes virus, a person becomes a permanent carrier, the disease periodically worsens under favorable conditions (decreased immunity, etc.), causing the appearance of unpleasant painful ulcers on the lips.
About 90% of the population are carriers of the virus, only 1/4 suffers from frequent cold sores on the lips. If we talk about Alzheimer's disease, in this case a large role is played by weak immunity in old age, due to which the virus can more easily penetrate the brain and start a pathological process that destroys brain cells and neural connections. As a result of such activity of the virus, cognitive functions in an elderly person decrease.
In a healthy person, the body produces a small amount of amyloid protein, which contributes to the formation of deposits and the development of Alzheimer's disease.
It is likely that the discovery of Swiss specialists will help in developing a cure for Alzheimer's disease, in particular using antiviral agents. In a few years, specialists plan to begin clinical trials of preventive therapy for Alzheimer's disease.
Currently, the link between the disease and the presence of the virus in the body has been confirmed by observations of more than three thousand patients, in whom the infection doubled the risk of developing Alzheimer's.
In addition, the experts analyzed tissue samples from people with Alzheimer's and from the control group, as a result of which carriers of the virus were twice as likely to suffer from a decrease in mental abilities.
Alzheimer's disease is characterized by a gradual loss of memory, speech, ability to think logically, etc. As the disease progresses, a person is unable to take care of themselves, requires constant supervision, and it is sometimes extremely difficult to communicate with such people.
It is known that people with mental disorders find it easier to remember old events, while they can completely forget about everyday matters. It is through memories that one can find a way to communicate with such patients.
This was confirmed by the research of Dr. Anne-Marie Quinn, who monitored the reactions of patients with reduced mental abilities for five weeks. All participants were shown old photos of one of the parks in Great Britain. All patients began to actively discuss their past while viewing the photos, some managed to remember skills that they had mastered, but had not used in practice for a long time.
As it turns out, memories of a past life are extremely important for people, especially when mental activity decreases. Experts are also sure that in dementia, it is memories that help a person navigate a new environment.
People with Alzheimer's disease do not remember ordinary things, but the feelings associated with a certain event in their lives remain for a long time. As one study showed, people with Alzheimer's may not remember visits from relatives, but the feeling of joy from their arrival will remain in their memory for a long time.
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