HSV-1 infection may be linked to the risk for Alzheimer’s disease, but antiviral treatment may be protective, a large case-control study suggests.

Researchers have found that the herpes virus, which causes cold sores, increases Alzheimer’s risk by as much as 80% by looking at medical records of over 300,000 Americans

New research studying records of over 300,000 people suggests a link between herpes simplex virus-1 infection and Alzheimer's disease

The virus that causes cold sores is very common, but scientists say recent research should not be a cause for panic.

The Herpes simplex virus hides in plain sight. For most, it’s a fleeting nuisance — a tingling lip, a blister, a cold sore. But new research suggests that herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), carried silently by billions, may leave a far more lasting imprint deep within the brain: an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

Symptomatic infection with the virus responsible for cold sores around the mouth–herpes simplex 1, or HSV-1 for short—may have a key role in the development of Alzheimer's disease, suggests a large US study published in BMJ Open.

“Exposure to herpesviruses is likely to be associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia, and antiherpetic medications can be protective against Alzheimer’s and related dementia,” Liu, a virologist at Gilead, told Gizmodo in an email.

A new study has found the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), which causes cold sores, may be linked to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. This idea is not entirely new. Previous research has suggested there may be an association between HSV-1 and Alzheimer’s disease,