What I read in a newspaper today -

"The cold sore virus may also cause Alzheimer’s disease in elderly people, scientists have found. It means drugs already used to treat the facial blisters could be effective for the degenerative brain illness.

Researchers at the University of Manchester discovered the DNA of the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1) in protein plaques found in the brains of Alzheimer’s sufferers.

Professor Ruth Itzhaki, who led the research, said: “We suggest that HSV1 enters the brain in the elderly as their immune systems decline.”

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The findings, published in the Journal of Pathology, said the virus would lie dormant but could be repeatedly activated by events such as stress and infections.

That causes severe damage in brain cells, most of which die and then disintegrate, Prof Itzhaki believes.

Alzheimer’s disease, also known as senile dementia, affects more than 20 million people worldwide.

It shows as progressive memory loss and confusion and has been regarded as incurable. The underlying causes are unknown.

The researchers now hope to obtain funding to continue their research into the cold sore link."

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