Overview

• Research analyzing over 344,000 medical records found that individuals with HSV-1 infection had an 80% higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
• Antiviral treatments for HSV-1 were associated with a 17% lower likelihood of Alzheimer’s among infected individuals, according to the BMJ Open study.
• Other herpesviruses, including HSV-2 and varicella zoster virus, were also linked to an elevated Alzheimer’s risk, though the mechanisms remain unclear.
• Experts emphasize that while the findings highlight associations, they do not prove causation, and further research is needed to explore biological pathways.
• The study underscores the potential for antiviral therapies and herpesvirus prevention to play a role in reducing dementia risk, pending more definitive trials.