Overview

• A large US-based study involving 344,628 matched pairs found an 80% higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease in individuals diagnosed with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1).
• Antiviral treatments for HSV-1 were associated with a 17% reduction in Alzheimer’s risk, highlighting potential protective effects.
• HSV-1 DNA has been detected in amyloid plaques characteristic of Alzheimer’s, suggesting a possible link through brain inflammation and protein aggregation.
• The study, published in BMJ Open, emphasizes that while the findings suggest an association, causation remains unproven, necessitating further research and clinical trials.
• Experts caution that the study relies on insurance data, which may underreport infections and medication adherence, underscoring the need for more robust prospective studies.