William Atkins
Monday, 08 December 2008 23:40
Science -
Health
Page 2 of 3
Dr. Itzhaki and her research team stated,
“We discovered a striking localization of herpes simplex virus type 1 DNA within plaques: in Alzheimer's disease brains, 90% of the plaques contained the viral DNA and 72% of the DNA was associated with plaques; in aged normal brains, which contain amyloid plaques at a lower frequency, 80% of plaques contained herpes simplex virus type 1 DNA but only 24% of the viral DNA was plaque-associated ….”
“We suggest that this is because in aged normal individuals, there is a lesser production and/or greater removal of B-amyloid (AB), so that less of the viral DNA is seen to be associated with A in the brain. Our present data, together with our finding of A accumulation in herpes simplex virus type 1-infected cells and mouse brain, suggest that this virus is a major cause of amyloid plaques and hence probably a significant aetiological factor in Alzheimer's disease.”
In the December 7, 2008
ScienceDaily.com article “
Cold Sore Virus Linked To Alzheimer's Disease: New Treatment, Or Even Vaccine Possible,” it is stated that the researchers
“… believe the herpes simplex virus is a significant factor in developing the debilitating disease and could be treated by antiviral agents such as acyclovir, which is already used to treat cold sores and other diseases caused by the herpes virus.”
Aciclovir (chemical name acyclognanosine) is a guanosine analogue antiviral drug, which is marketed under such names as Cyclovir, Herpex, Zovirax, and Zovir.
It is a common antiviral drug that is commonly used to treat herpes simplex virus infections.
ScienceDaily.com also reports,
“Together, these findings strongly implicate HSV1 as a major factor in the formation of amyloid deposits and plaques, abnormalities thought by many in the field to be major contributors to Alzheimer's disease.”
Dr. Itzhaki suggests,
“… that HSV1 enters the brain in the elderly as their immune systems decline and then establishes a dormant infection from which it is repeatedly activated by events such as stress, immunosuppression, and various infections." [ScienceDaily.com]
Page three adds more information on what Dr. Itzhaki has to say about how HSV-1 enters the brain.
