Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 May Affect Risk for Alzheimer Disease
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, May 22, 2025 -- Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is associated with an increased risk for Alzheimer disease (AD) based on real-world data from the United States, according to a study published online May 20 in BMJ Open.
Yunhao Liu, from Gilead Sciences Inc. in Foster City, California, and colleagues conducted a matched case-control study involving patients with AD aged 50 years and older diagnosed between 2006 and 2021 identified from the IQVIA PharMetrics Plus claims database to examine the association between HSV-1 and AD. Controls were matched with individuals with AD on age, sex, region, database entry year, and health care visit numbers in a 1:1 ratio (344,628 AD case-control pairs).
The researchers found that 0.44 and 0.24 percent of patients with AD and controls, respectively, had a history of HSV-1 diagnosis. There was an association for HSV-1 diagnosis with an increased risk for AD (adjusted odds ratio, 1.80). Compared with those who did not use antiherpetics, patients with HSV-1 who used antiherpetics were less likely to develop AD (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.83).
"These findings place an even greater emphasis on viewing the prevention of herpesviruses as a public health priority," the authors write. "Further research to determine whether suppression of neurotropic viruses can alter the natural history of AD and AD-related dementia is warranted based on the consistent observational studies."
Several authors disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry, including Gilead Sciences, which funded the study.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted May 2025
Read this next
GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Tied to Decrease in T2DM-Related Dementia Risk
WEDNESDAY, July 23, 2025 -- Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are associated with reduced type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)-related dementia risk compared with...
Risk for Dementia, Ischemic Stroke, Mortality Lower With GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in T2D, Obesity
TUESDAY, July 22, 2025 -- For adults with type 2 diabetes and obesity, glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are associated with a lower risk for dementia, stroke...
Dementia Risk Does Not Differ With GLP-1 RAs, DPP4is for Seniors With T2DM
MONDAY, July 21, 2025 -- For older adults with diabetes, there is no clear evidence to suggest that the incidence of dementia differs for those using glucagon-like peptide 1...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.