Posted on 12/07/2008 3:42:46 PM PST by decimon
A COMMON virus that produces cold sores may be one of the main causes of Alzheimer's disease, new research suggests, sparking hope that the devastating condition could be treated with existing drugs.
Scientists believe the herpes simplex virus (HSV1), which is widespread throughout the population, is linked to up to 60% of Alzheimer's cases.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.scotsman.com ...
Wow, huge news. Great, if it proves to be correct.
Like, *PING*, folks.
later
My mother gets cold cores and she has Alzheimers. I get cold sores also. Ouch.
I'm sorry to hear about your mom.
May I ask if either of you take antiviral medications?
I don’t know if it is such good news if it linked to the Herpes family. Varicella-zoster virus seems immortal as far as human immunology goes. Herpes simplex II is the “gift that keeps on giving.”
I always attibuted it to an allergic reaction to some sort of pollen or mold.
No. I get these maybe once a year or two. When I get them I buy over the counter external drops if I get anything at all. What anti-viral medicine are you referring to and would it just be taken when I get cold sores or all the time? Thanks.
I know one of the scientists working on the HSV and Alzheimer’s link and he is convinced enough to take oral acyclovir daily.
My mother gets cold cores and she has Alzheimers. I get cold sores also. Ouch.
___________________________________________
That’s pretty much what I was going to write.
Now I think I’m scared.
NOT if you're a person prone to cold sores. Just great.
If only I knew. ;-)
From the article: "The discovery, following laboratory experiments, raises the prospect of treatment for the degenerative brain disease, which causes memory loss and language breakdown, with safe antiviral treatments currently used to treat cold sores."
Acyclovir must be an antiviral medication. I really don't know.
If your immune system declines something will kill you. There’s a lot of possibilities.
The answer is to tune up your immune system, not take drugs for something as common as Herpes.
If you can.
If some antiviral medication will prevent the buildup of the mentioned brain plaque or, better yet, reduce any existing plaque then that sounds good to me.
Thanks decimon!
ping
Something like 80% of the population has the kind of herpes that causes cold sores (which is not the same as genital herpes).
“If you can.”
I haven’t missed work in 17 years, my memory is sharp, and I’ve suffered from cold sores ( is there anyone who hasn’t? ). I think I’ll stick with what I’m doing now.
For those who want’t a non-drug approach, the amino acid lysine is known to inhibit the herpes virus, while arginine speeds its growth. Fish, chicken, beef, lamb, milk, cheese, beans, brewer’s yeast, mung bean sprouts and most fruits and vegetables have more lysine than arginine, except for peas.
Side effects of acyclovir:
“SIDE EFFECTS: The most common side effects are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and headache. Other reported side effects include agitation, confusion, rash, anemia, and muscle pain. Hypersensitivity reactions, seizures, agitation, confusion, anemia, hepatitis, and muscle pain have also been reported.”
Have fun, drug users!
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