The relationship between Alzheimer's and herpes zoster should be
studied. A solid link between herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV1 and
Alzheimer's has been found. See:
"Cold Sore Virus Linked To Alzheimer's Disease: New Treatment, Or
Even Vaccine Possible":
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081207134109.htm
http://tinyurl.com/5ujyxx
"ScienceDaily (Dec. 7, 2008) — The virus behind cold sores is a major
cause of the insoluble protein plaques found in the brains of
Alzheimer's disease sufferers, University of Manchester researchers
have revealed."
"They 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. Another future
possibility is vaccination against the virus to prevent the
development of the disease in the first place."
"Professor Ruth Itzhaki and her team at the University's Faculty of
Life Sciences have investigated the role of herpes simplex virus type
1 (HSV1) in AD, publishing their very recent, highly significant
findings in the Journal of Pathology.
Most people are infected with this virus, which then remains life-
long in the peripheral nervous system, and in 20-40% of those
infected it causes cold sores. Evidence of a viral role in AD would
point to the use of antiviral agents to stop progression of the
disease."
"The team discovered that the HSV1 DNA is located very specifically
in amyloid plaques: 90% of plaques in Alzheimer's disease sufferers'
brains contain HSV1 DNA, and most of the viral DNA is located within
amyloid plaques. The team had previously shown that HSV1 infection of
nerve-type cells induces deposition of the main component, beta
amyloid, of amyloid plaques. 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."
"The team had discovered much earlier that the virus is present in
brains of many elderly people and that in those people with a
specific genetic factor, there is a high risk of developing
Alzheimer's disease."
It is not a giant leap to consider the possibility that Herpes
zoster, the virus that causes chicken pox, and later in life
Shingles, might be linked to Alzheimer's, or at least the onset
process of Alzheimer's. Like Alzheimer's, and unlike cold sores,
which are caused by the Herpes simplex virus, Shingles occurs late in
life. There is a vaccine for Shingles effective for people over 60
years of age. See:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/shingles-vaccine/AN01738
http://tinyurl.com/create.php
Since Singles vaccine is recommended by the Mayo Clinic for everyone
over 60 anyway, it might be a very good investment, one earning
unexpected dividends. Shingles is pretty horrific as it is. See
the photos here:
http://www.skinsite.com/info_Herpes_zoster.htm
http://tinyurl.com/4aeeg
The somewhat obvious potential link suggested here between
Alzheimer's and Herpes zoster (varicella zoster), and possibly the
Shingles vaccine, a vaccine against Herpes zoster, could be studied
by survey.
The percentage of the population vulnerable to Alzheimer's may take a
significant change in the future. A vaccine for chicken pox was
licensed for use in Japan and Korea in 1988, and the United states in
1995, and the MMRV vaccine licensed in 2005. See:
http://www.vaccineinformation.org/varicel/qandavax.asp
http://tinyurl.com/6nuc5y
The chicken pox vaccine utilizes a live weakened virus, so its effect
on Alzheimer's could be positive, but is most likely prophylactic.
"One in 10 people over age 65 and nearly half of all individuals who
reach the age of 85 will develop Alzheimer's disease." See:
http://www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/conditions/dementia/alzheimer/
alzheimer_qaa.htm
http://tinyurl.com/yfn8239
"Currently, 90% of adults are immune to chickenpox because of having
had the disease as children. If you have a history of chickenpox
disease, you don't need testing or vaccination, unless you are
working in an environment where your immune status must be documented
(such as a hospital). If you are uncertain of your medical history,
blood testing can be done to see if immunization is appropriate." See:
http://www.vaccineinformation.org/varicel/qandavax.asp
http://tinyurl.com/6nuc5y
Despite 90% of adults being immune to chicken pox "About 25 percent
of all adults, mostly otherwise healthy, will get shingles during
their lifetimes, usually after age 40. The incidence increases with
age so that shingles is 10 times more likely to occur in adults over
60 than in children under 10." See:
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/shingles/detail_shingles.htm
http://tinyurl.com/dl3az
It is also a reasonable hypothesis that genital Herpes may also play
a role, perhaps an increasing role with time since the sexual
revolution in the 1960's which was brought about by birth control and
cultural changes. "Genital Herpes can infect anyone who has sex,
even if only once. An estimated 25% of adults from varying
backgrounds, income levels and ethnic groups have Herpes type 2
causing genital Herpes. Herpes type 2 is often so mild that an
estimated two thirds of those infected don’t even realize they have
it. Herpes type 2 rarely causes complications and more rarely spreads
to other parts of the body." "It is estimated that herpes simplex 1
now accounts for as many as 30% of all genital herpes cases in the
U.S. and 2-5% of the recurring outbreaks are associated with the
herpes type 1 virus." See:
http://www.herpesonline.org/articles/herpes_virus.html
http://tinyurl.com/yddtj3f
Herpes prevalence, in particular HSV-2 prevalence, varies with
geographic location. "Information on age- and sex-specific
prevalence of herpes simplex virus (HSV) types 2 and 1 infections is
essential to optimize genital herpes control strategies, which
increase in importance because accumulating data indicate that HSV-2
infection may increase acquisition and transmission of human
immunodeficiency virus. This review summarizes data from peer-
reviewed publications of type-specific HSV seroepidemiologic surveys.
HSV-2 prevalence is, in general, highest in Africa and the Americas,
lower in western and southern Europe than in northern Europe and
North America, and lowest in Asia. HSV-2 and -1 prevalence, overall
and by age, varies markedly by country, region within country, and
population subgroup. Age-specific HSV-2 prevalence is usually higher
in women than men and in populations with higher risk sexual
behavior. HSV-2 prevalence has increased in the United States but
national data from other countries are unavailable. HSV-1 infection
is acquired during childhood and adolescence and is markedly more
widespread than HSV-2 infection." See:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12353183
http://tinyurl.com/ye4me24
A study of Alzheimer's vs HSV-1 and HSV-2 virus prevalence across age
groups and geographical location may be useful.
Even an amateur created web based survey might be useful to explore
some of the relationships, in order to justify the expense of a
professional survey. Such a survey might even be conducted as a high
school science project. Such a survey might include the following
questions:
1. Geographical location? (providing a multiple choice of regions)
2. Age? (providing a multiple choice of age groups)
3. Have you had cold sores or Herpes of any kind?
4. Have you had Shingles?
5. Have you had chicken pox?
6. Have you had a chicken pox or MMRV vaccination?
7. Have you had a Shingles vaccination?
8. Have you been diagnosed with Alzheimer's?
9. Have you been diagnosed with dementia?
It would be important to obtain a large proportion of Alzheimer's
respondents. Perhaps the Alzheimer's foundation would be helpful in
this regard. See:
http://www.alzfdn.org/
Best regards,
Horace Heffner
http://www.mtaonline.net/~hheffner/
