Cold sores may play role in Alzheimer's development, new research reveals
Cold sores may play a role in the development of Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study published in BMJ Open.
Researchers examined 344,628 "case-control pairs." The pairs were matched in age, sex, geographical region and number of healthcare visits — but one had Alzheimer's disease and one did not.
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.
Among these 2,330 people, 40% used anti-herpetic medication following their diagnosis.
Those who were treated for the virus were 17% less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than those who didn't use the treatments, the study found.
The risk of developing this form of dementia is known to rise with age. However, the chance of an HSV-1 diagnosis was 80% higher in those diagnosed with Alzheimer's, according to the research.
Less commonly, cold sores can be caused by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2).
The analysis places "an even greater emphasis on viewing the prevention of herpes viruses as a public health priority," the researchers said in a press release.
Overall, women made up 65% of the Alzheimer's cases. Their average age was 73, and they tended to have more co-existing conditions, which were all risk factors.
The study also observed the potential role of other herpes viruses, some of which were associated with an elevated risk of Alzheimer's disease.
The specific connection between viruses like HSV-1 and heightened dementia risk isn't clear, the researchers noted.
"However, studies have shown that inflammatory alterations in the brain caused by HSV infection are pivotal in [Alzheimer's disease] development," they said in the release.
Treatment with anti-viral therapy seems to lower the risk of Alzheimer's, "suggesting that HSV-1 treatment may be protective," the study says.
"There's no cure for cold sores, but treatment can help manage outbreaks," according to Mayo Clinic.
"Prescription antiviral medicine or creams can help sores heal more quickly. And they may make future outbreaks happen less often and be shorter and less serious."
There were some limitations in the study, the researchers acknowledged.
"Due to limited data history, HSV-1 infections prior to the patient's database entry were not included in the analysis, and it is possible that some overlap exists between HSV-1 and HSV-2 diagnoses," the researchers noted.
"Additionally, many individuals with HSV-1 infection are asymptomatic, and others may not seek medical care during recurrences and are therefore not clinically diagnosed and recorded in the database."
While an estimated two-thirds of people under 50 are infected with HSV-1, data on symptomatic infections is limited, "as manifestations can be mild or unnoticed," the researchers added.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health
Under-diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease could also skew the results.
Fox News Digital reached out to the researchers and other doctors for comment.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Yahoo
This Dirt Cheap Healthcare Stock Could Be a Hidden Artificial Intelligence (AI) Opportunity (Hint: It's Not Eli Lilly)
One major potential use case for AI in healthcare is drug discovery for pharmaceutical companies. Insurance is another healthcare-related industry likely to benefit from AI, which could aid scenario modeling, predictive analytics, and natural language processing. UnitedHealth Group experienced some operational challenges this year, but AI could wipe away these shortcomings in the long run. 10 stocks we like better than UnitedHealth Group › When it comes to popular healthcare stocks, investors have focused a lot of attention lately on Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk and the potential of their blockbuster weight management treatments, including Mounjaro, Zepbound, Ozempic, and Wegovy. While these drugs are likely to lead to billions in revenue, Lilly and Novo aren't relying solely on these drugs to grow their businesses. Both companies are also looking into the potential that artificial intelligence (AI) can bring to their operations -- and for good reason. Accounting and consulting firm PwC estimates that the total addressable market (TAM) for AI in healthcare could reach $868 billion by 2030. One of the obvious applications that AI has for healthcare is facilitating pharmaceutical companies in clinical trials and drug discovery. While such use cases are exciting, I see another pocket of the healthcare industry that could be positively disrupted by AI: insurance. Let's explore why UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) could be an under-the-radar growth opportunity because of the intersection between healthcare and AI. Back in April, UnitedHealth greatly disappointed investors after the company published revised financial guidance that indicated a lower-than-expected earnings outlook for the remainder of the year. Management blamed the lower profitability on two primary factors. First, utilization rates in the company's Medicare Advantage program exceeded internal forecasts, taking a toll on the company's cost structure. Second, reimbursements in the company's pharmacy benefits management (PBM) platform, Optum Health, were negatively impacted by reductions in Medicare funding as well as changes to some of the patient demographic profiles in this segment of the business. In short order, the stock price plunged and has shown no indications of recovery, so far. For 2025, share prices are down 40%, making UnitedHealth the poorest-performing stock in the Dow Jones Industrial Average this year. But before you go writing UnitedHealth off as a broken business, let's examine how AI has the potential to help the health insurance industry and how UnitedHealth specifically could implement this technology to improve the business over time. The underlying issue surrounding UnitedHealth's challenges right now has to do with forecasting. There isn't anything fundamentally broken with the business. Rather, unforeseen changes in the macroeconomic environment led to a different reality than what management had previously modeled -- ultimately leading to higher costs and compressed profit margins. By using machine learning, UnitedHealth could train AI models on claims data and subsequently integrate these feeds into electronic health records (EHR) to help predict more accurate utilization trends. More efficient data feeds could help UnitedHealth hone its pricing strategy and better plan for cost spikes. In addition, AI has the ability to build predictive models that can more accurately assess patient risk profiles. In theory, this has the potential to analyze more granular detail around various segments of patient data as it relates to engagement rates and risk profiles. This could help improve reimbursement forecasts for the Optum business. Lastly, natural language processing (NLP) can also be used to create scenario models by simulating how a business could be impacted based on changes in the regulatory landscape. An example of a company that specializes in this area of AI training is FiscalNote. This could help UnitedHealth plan more strategically as it pertains to budgeting decisions during periods of political uncertainty. While shares of UnitedHealth trade at a slight premium to other large health insurers based on forward earnings multiples, the bigger takeaway from the trends below is that the stock price is hovering near a five-year low. While UnitedHealth's operational challenges won't be fixed overnight, it is key to remember that management believes the company can course correct throughout the second half of this year and be better positioned by 2026. Whether UnitedHealth transitions into an AI-powered service remains to be seen. Investors with a long-run time horizon might want to consider holding on to their shares, though, as the ideas explored above showcase how AI has the potential to become a game-changing advancement for the health insurance industry over time. Looked at a different way, UnitedHealth could transform its business over the next several years by making cognizant investments in this technology. Nevertheless, the stock appears dirt cheap right now, and I think patient investors will be rewarded as the company turns things around over the next couple of quarters. Before you buy stock in UnitedHealth Group, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and UnitedHealth Group wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $713,547!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $966,931!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,062% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 177% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 23, 2025 Fiscal Note is a transcription service used by The Motley Fool. Adam Spatacco has positions in Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. The Motley Fool recommends Novo Nordisk and UnitedHealth Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This Dirt Cheap Healthcare Stock Could Be a Hidden Artificial Intelligence (AI) Opportunity (Hint: It's Not Eli Lilly) was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Dementia risk 'can be reduced' by herb that's easy to grow in kitchens and gardens
Dementia affects millions of people worldwide, and the numbers are increasing. There is currently an estimated 982,000 people with dementia in the UK, and it is predicted that 1.4 million people will be living with dementia by 2040, according to the Alzheimer's Society. However, new research has emerged that suggests that a common herb that's easy to grow in your kitchen or garden can actually reduce the risk of getting the brain disorder. Rich in natural compounds that support memory and protect brain cells, this everyday plant is gaining attention as a simple yet powerful ally in the fight against dementia. The secret weapon: rosemary. The herb has long been associated with sharper memory and improved mental clarity, and even appeared in Shakespeare's Hamlet, where Ophelia stated: "There's rosemary, that's for remembrance." READ MORE: Scientist reveals that eating this one fruit a day will lower inflammation READ MORE: Early dementia symptom that could show up when you're on holiday But now modern science is exploring whether rosemary can be linked to aiding Alzheimer's disease. In a 2025 study published in Antioxidants, researchers explored the benefits of carnosic acid, which is a natural compound found in rosemary and sage. Carnosic acid is known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which activate the body's natural defence enzymes. However, "pure carnosic acid" is too unstable for direct use as a drug, so a more stable form called diAcCA was developed, which converts to carnosic acid in the gut, reported Scripps Research. Research showed "that when diAcCA was used to treat mouse models of Alzheimer's disease, it achieved therapeutic doses of carnosic acid in the brain and led to enhanced memory and synaptic density, or more synapses (representing the connections between nerve cells), in the brain. "Because the decline of neuronal synapses is also closely correlated to dementia in Alzheimer's disease, this approach could counteract the progression of cognitive decline." A health expert at the Independent also shared that rosemary can enhance mental clarity by boosting blood flow to the brain, delivering more oxygen and nutrients. Its calming aroma has also been linked to reduced anxiety and better sleep, both key for focus and memory. Another study conducted by a team at Northumbria University found a link between rosemary oil, lavender oil and memory performance. A doctor who participated in the study spoke to the BBC and shared: "It turns out that there are compounds in rosemary oil that may be responsible for changes in memory performance. "One of them is called 1,8-cineole - as well as smelling wonderful (if you like that sort of thing) it may act in the same way as the drugs licensed to treat dementia, causing an increase in a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine." The compound 1,8-cineole helps preserve acetylcholine, a vital brain chemical for learning and memory. By protecting this neurotransmitter, rosemary may support cognitive performance, even when we age. The doctor concluded: "The implications of this kind of research are huge, but they don't mean you need to spend your days smelling of rosemary and your night sleeping on a pillow of lavender. "The effects were measurable but modest, and they give us a clue that further research into some of the chemicals in essential oils may yield therapeutics and contribute to our understanding of memory and brain function."
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
France imposes smoking ban on beaches, parks
Anyone who lights up on a beach or in a public park in France will be breaking the law from Sunday under new rules aimed at protecting children from the dangers of passive smoking. Bus shelters and areas in the immediate vicinity of libraries, swimming pools and schools will also be affected by the ban, which is coming into force one day after its publication in the official government gazette on Saturday. The rule is being imposed one week before the beginning of the school holidays in France in a clear bid to immediately protect children from smoke on the beach. However, to the disappointment of some anti-tobacco activists, the ban does not cover the terraces of bars and restaurants where many French still happily light up. They are also unhappy that the ban does not apply to electronic cigarettes. The rules had initially been expected to come into force on Tuesday after a previous announcement by the health ministry but the publication in the official gazette means this has now been brought forward to Sunday. People should also not smoke within a 10 metres radius of schools, swimming pools, libraries and other places that hurt minors. The health ministry said it would announce the minimum distance for smoking in these areas in the coming days as well as reveal the sign used to designate such areas. Violators of the ban could face a fine of 135 euros ($160) up to a maximum of 700 euros. However the health ministry is expecting an initial grace period as the new rules are explained. "Tobacco must disappear from places where there are children. A park, a beach, a school -- these are places to play, learn, and breathe. Not for smoking," Health and Family Minister Catherine Vautrin said. This is another step "towards a tobacco-free generation", she added, which France is targeting from 2032. - 'It must be clear' - The ban "is a step in the right direction, but remains insufficient," said Yves Martinet, president of the National Committee Against Smoking (CNCT), criticising the continued permission to smoke on cafe terraces. "The minister points to the protection of children," but children "also go to the terraces," Martinet, a pulmonologist, said. He lamented the absence of e-cigarettes from the text, saying flavours are used to "hook young people". "For a measure to be effective, it must be clear -- no consumption of products containing tobacco or nicotine in public," Martinet said. But Frank Delvau, president of the Union of Hotel Trades and Industries (UMIH) for the Paris region, said a ban on smoking on cafe terraces "would only shift the problem because people on terraces would go smoke next to these establishments". "Smokers and non-smokers can coexist" on terraces, the "last places of conviviality and freedom," said Franck Trouet, of hospitality association Hotels and Restaurants of France (GHR). In France, passive exposure to tobacco smoke causes 3,000 to 5,000 deaths per year, according to official figures. Smoking is steadily declining in France with "the lowest prevalence ever recorded since 2000", according to France addiction agency the OFDT. Less than a quarter of adults aged 18 to 75 reported smoking daily in 2023, according to the agency. Smoking causes 75,000 deaths per year in France and, again according to the OFDT, costs society 156 billion euros annually, counting factors including lost lives, quality of life, productivity, prevention, law enforcement, and healthcare. According to a recent opinion survey, 62 percent of French people favour a smoking ban in public places. ch-ref-alu-sjw/gv/tc
