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Updated: Apr 22, 2026

A Primary Neuron Culture System for the Study of Herpes Simplex Virus Latency and Reactivation
Published on: April 2, 2012
Herpes simplex infection and the risk of Alzheimer's disease: A nested case-control study
Hugo Lövheim1, Jonathan Gilthorpe2, Anders Johansson3
1Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Geriatric Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Background:
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is thought to play an etiological role in the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD).
Methods:
Plasma samples from 360 AD cases (75.3% women, mean age 61.2 years) and 360 age- and sex-matched dementia-free controls, taken on average 9.6 years before AD diagnosis, were analyzed for anti-HSV antibodies (immunoglobulin G, IgG, and immunoglobulin M, IgM) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.
Results:
In the complete sample group, the presence of anti-HSV IgG and IgM antibodies did not increase the risk of AD significantly (odds ratio (OR) 1.636, P = .069 and OR 1.368, P = .299, respectively). In cases with 6.6 years or more between plasma sampling and AD diagnosis (n = 270), there was a significant association between presence of anti-HSV IgG antibodies and AD (OR 2.250, P = .019).
Conclusion:
Among persons with a follow-up time of 6.6 years or more, HSV infection was significantly associated with AD.
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