27 ms·

I think it's worth noting that the herpes simplex patients were seeking treatment for severe symptoms and were diagnosed using an antibody test. That seems very

I think it's worth noting that the herpes simplex patients were seeking treatment for severe symptoms and were diagnosed using an antibody test. That seems very unusual. It wouldn't occur to me to see a doctor over a cold sore and if I did my GP would probably laugh me out of the office. So maybe (here's me grasping at straws) these people had herpes of a severity completely unlike the millions that buy cold sore cream at the supermarket. Or they had symptoms for the very first time, which would be extremely unsual as well considering they were all over 50. None of that takes away from the surprising effect of the anti-viral treatment on Alzheimer's, but I think the size of the effect may be related to the unusual severity of these particular herpes outbreaks.

subcosmos 8y ago
Antibody tests aren't unusual at all. In terms of why they were tested, some of the articles in the press lately seem to indicate that its in response to a shingles infection. Thats when the chickenpox virus (a herpesvirus) becomes reactivated later in life and specifically infects a nerve. We all get exposed to chickenpox and most of us are latently harboring it. I wish I understood all of the herpes isoforms better.
- fauigerzigerk 8y ago
  I'm talking about the third study included in the meta study mentioned in the article. That study only includes HSV1 cases, i.e cold sores on the lips. I don't think many of those are ever tested.
findyoucef 8y ago
You're being silly. I doubt your doctor would laugh you of the office for requesting an HSV test. Now a days HSV testing combines type 1 & 2 into a single test, so if you ever go in for STD testing you would get tested for both. You don't have to have symptoms to go in for STD testing. You keep everyone safer by being tested regularly despite the lack of symptoms. It's not usual not to have HSV at that age, I'm 30 years old without HSV, and my father who was in his 70s when he died had never contracted the virus either.
- 8f2ab37a-ed6c 8y ago
  Most STD panels do not include HSV tests though, you have to specifically ask for those. Which is IMO a big part why 90% of people contracting HSV have no idea they have it, in addition to simply being asymptomatic. The typical set doctors look for are HIV, Syphilis, Gonorrhea and something else that escapes me right now.
  - marvin 8y ago
    Probably Chlamydia. Can cause sterility and often doesn't have any obvious symptoms.
- fauigerzigerk 8y ago
  I didn't mean it quite so literally. The point is that those who do get cold sores regularly would know what it is and wouldn't normally seek treatment or get tested. So that's why I think the people included in that study must be somewhat atypical.

subcosmos 8y ago

Antibody tests aren't unusual at all. In terms of why they were tested, some of the articles in the press lately seem to indicate that its in response to a shingles infection. Thats when the chickenpox virus (a herpesvirus) becomes reactivated later in life and specifically infects a nerve. We all get exposed to chickenpox and most of us are latently harboring it. I wish I understood all of the herpes isoforms better.

fauigerzigerk 8y ago
I'm talking about the third study included in the meta study mentioned in the article. That study only includes HSV1 cases, i.e cold sores on the lips. I don't think many of those are ever tested.

findyoucef 8y ago

You're being silly. I doubt your doctor would laugh you of the office for requesting an HSV test. Now a days HSV testing combines type 1 & 2 into a single test, so if you ever go in for STD testing you would get tested for both. You don't have to have symptoms to go in for STD testing. You keep everyone safer by being tested regularly despite the lack of symptoms. It's not usual not to have HSV at that age, I'm 30 years old without HSV, and my father who was in his 70s when he died had never contracted the virus either.

8f2ab37a-ed6c 8y ago
Most STD panels do not include HSV tests though, you have to specifically ask for those. Which is IMO a big part why 90% of people contracting HSV have no idea they have it, in addition to simply being asymptomatic. The typical set doctors look for are HIV, Syphilis, Gonorrhea and something else that escapes me right now.
- marvin 8y ago
  Probably Chlamydia. Can cause sterility and often doesn't have any obvious symptoms.
fauigerzigerk 8y ago
I didn't mean it quite so literally. The point is that those who do get cold sores regularly would know what it is and wouldn't normally seek treatment or get tested. So that's why I think the people included in that study must be somewhat atypical.