Background: Previous studies have suggested a link between herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 and the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods: The present analysis included 3432 persons (53.9% women, mean age at inclusion 62.7 ± 14.4 years) with a mean follow-up time of 11.3 years. The number of incident AD cases was 245. Serum samples were analyzed for anti-HSV antibodies (immunoglobulin (Ig)G and IgM) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results: The presence of anti-HSV IgG antibodies was not associated with an increased risk for AD, controlled for age and sex (hazard ratio, HR, 0.993, P =.979). However, the presence of anti-HSV IgM at baseline was associated with an increased risk of developing AD (HR 1.959, P =.012). Conclusion: Positivity for anti-HSV IgM, a sign of reactivated infection, was found to almost double the risk for AD, whereas the presence of anti-HSV IgG antibodies did not affect the risk.
CITATION STYLE
Lövheim, H., Gilthorpe, J., Adolfsson, R., Nilsson, L. G., & Elgh, F. (2015). Reactivated herpes simplex infection increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s and Dementia, 11(6), 593–599. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jalz.2014.04.522
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