Herpes Virus Linked to Alzheimer’s Development in Old Age. Experts explain the connection—and if it’s something you should worry about. By Kayla Blanton Published: Jun 09, 2025 8:30 AM EDT.

Could common viruses silently influence your brain health? Discover what new research reveals about herpes and dementia.

A recent study highlights the growing evidence linking the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) with Alzheimer’s disease, showing that antiviral medications reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s by 17%.

Widespread Reach of Herpes Virus Raises Concern . A variety of infectious agents have been suspected to contribute to Alzheimer's disease, with herpes simplex virus 1 being the most thoroughly ...

Compared with flu vaccine recipients, those given the RSV or shingles vaccine had 18% to 37% lower odds of receiving a ...

Of the groups studied, 1,507 people with Alzheimer’s also had herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), which is the most common cause of cold sores. Only 823 people in the control group had HSV-1.

Researchers discovered that HSV-1 (herpes simplex virus) actively reshapes the 3D layout of human DNA within hours of ...

Viruses are entirely dependent on their hosts to reproduce. They ransack living cells for parts and energy and hijack the ...

Published in The Lancet in 1997, researchers compared DNA extracted from the brains of elderly people with and without Alzheimer’s, and in some of them, found herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1)—an ...