Cold sores may be linked to Alzheimer’s

THE virus behind cold sores may be linked to Alzheimer’s, and the disease could be treatable with existing drugs, research has found.

Scientists at the University of Manchester found the virus behind cold sores, herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1), was a major cause of the protein plaques found in the brains of Alzheimer’s sufferers.

Their research, published in the Journal of Pathology, suggests HSV1 could be a significant factor in developing the disease.