November is Alzheimer's Awareness month. I'm putting the ribbon in my sidebar. Feel free to snag - it's linked to The Ribbon.com, which helps caregivers, looking after Alzheimers patients.
Coincidental is the publication of a report that the herpes simplex virus (HSV1), known to cause cold sores, is thought to be linked to the development of Alzheimers disease.
In the laboratory environment, the virus caused an increase in a protein linked to Alzheimers, called beta-amyloid. The protein is contained in plaques, found on the brain of people with the disease. DNA from the virus was also found on those plaques. HSV1 may become more active in the presence of a mutant form of a certain gene.
Although there are a multitude of factors involved in the development of Alzheimers, this may open a window of hope towards the development of a vaccine. It will be many, many years before anything is developed.
More here.
Man does this mean that people with recurring cold sores are more prone to get Alzheimers then?
ReplyDeleteIt's another one of those horrible diseases that is so tragic to the patient and their family and friends. So far no one in my family has been afflicted with it. And I am thankful for that. Linda in Washington state
ReplyDeleteI was not aware it was linked to the herpes virus, interesting. It is such a devastating disease. I don't fear many ailments but Alzheimers is one I do think about.
ReplyDeleteLisa
I am horrible, because I knew of this & scared someone who gets lots of cold sores, but only because she tends to make fun of the elderly!
ReplyDelete~Mary
Alzheimers is a horrible thing....June
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