Researchers have uncovered a shocking connection between herpes and dementia, sparking concerns about how infections we acquire earlier in life might shape our brain health as we age.
A recent study from Uppsala University in Sweden suggest that individuals with herpes may be twice as likely to develop dementia later in life compared to those without the virus.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 3.8 billion people under age 50 worldwide are living with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection, the main cause of oral herpes, or cold sores.
WHO estimates that 520 million people aged 15 to 49 worldwide have herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection, the main cause of genital herpes.
“Most people with herpes have no symptoms or only mild symptoms. Many people aren’t aware they have the infection and can pass along the virus to others without knowing,” WHO explains of the virus, that can be transmitted through intimate contact, including kissing and sexual activity.
