According to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in six adults in the U.S. has genital herpes. Even though this sexually transmitted disease can have long-term health effects, around 776,000 new herpes infections occur in the U.S. each year.
The most well-known symptom of herpes is the outbreak of sores. However, a new study suggests that herpes might also impact memory in older adults. Researchers found that older adults with certain infections, including herpes, may have worse memory and thinking abilities compared to their peers.
The study, published in the March issue of Neurology, indicates a possible link between herpes and memory problems. However, it does not conclusively prove this connection. Despite this uncertainty, it’s known that herpes can spread throughout the body, including to the brain, potentially contributing to dementia.
The latest study supports the theory that we don’t fully understand how herpes affects brain function and highlights the need for further research.
A Deeper Look
In the study, researchers from Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York analyzed blood samples from over 1,600 seniors, with an average age of 69. They looked for markers of chronic infection from common pathogens, including HSV-1 and HSV-2 (which cause oral and genital herpes), cytomegalovirus (a usually symptomless virus in the herpes family), Chlamydia pneumonia (a bacterium causing respiratory infections), and H. pylori (a stomach bacterium that can cause ulcers).
They found that seniors with more infections performed worse on standardized memory and thinking tests. This was true even after considering other factors like diabetes, heart disease, smoking, and education level.
The study also revealed that viral infections, rather than bacterial ones, were associated with greater mental decline. About 23 percent of participants showed signs of mental impairment at the start of the study. Those who carried all three viruses—cytomegalovirus, HSV-1, and HSV-2—were 2.5 times more likely to have cognitive impairment compared to those with only one virus.
What This Means
Infection alone doesn’t fully explain the link between herpes and dementia. Most people carry at least one of the three viruses tested, with 80 percent of Americans carrying cytomegalovirus by age 40, yet most do not develop dementia. This indicates that we’re only beginning to understand the role of viruses in dementia development.
Columbia University researchers plan further clinical testing to investigate the causes of dementia. If they can firmly establish a link between viruses like herpes and dementia, it would underscore the importance of advances in STD education and prevention.