Heart Disease – Viruses Worsen Dementia In Elderly

According to Finnish researchers, viruses that cause cold sores and their cousins can worsen the risk of dementia in elderly people with heart disease. The researchers found that older patients infected with three common herpes viruses had a much higher risk of mental decline.

According to Finnish researchers, viruses that cause cold sores and their cousins can worsen the risk of dementia in elderly people with heart disease. The researchers found that older patients infected with three common herpes viruses had a much higher risk of mental decline. Heart patients with antibodies to two of the viruses, suggesting they had been infected, had a 1.8 times greater risk of dementia than those infected by none or one of the viruses. Those infected by all three viruses had a 2.3 times higher risk. The team tested 383 heart disease patients for antibodies to herpes simplex type 1, the virus that causes cold sores, herpes simplex type 2, which causes genital herpes, and cytomegalovirus or CMV. “Inflammation has been implicated in dementia, and viral infections could be a triggering factor,” said Dr. Timo Strandberg.”Our findings should be tested in other studies, but if these viruses are involved, there are existing therapies such as vaccination and antiviral drugs that could be used to prevent or treat dementia, Strandberg added.” The viruses are extremely common in the population, but can be controlled with several drugs including acyclovir.(Source: M.S.W.: ZoeMed: Cardiac Life Centre: 27th August 2003)