Could herpes meds slow down the onset of Alzheimer’s?

Existing research that shows a medication designed to treat herpes could also be beneficial to individuals suffering with Alzheimer’s. The treatment is being tested in a new clinical study.

The study is conducted by researchers at Umeå University in Sweden, who authored original research on the correlation between a herpes virus infection and an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease, according to a statement.

Led by Hugo Lövheim, a physician at the Geriatric Centre at the University Hospital of Umeå, the study will follow 36 patients with Alzheimer’s disease who are being treated with Valaciklovir, a drug that targets active herpes viruses.

Over four weeks, the investigators will follow patients’ progress, checking their status before and after the treatment using brain imaging. Investigators began recruiting patients this month.

“In earlier population-based studies, we have seen that herpes virus infection increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease,” said Lövheim. “It is very interesting to see if we can influence the neurodegenerative processes of Alzheimer's disease by using a well-established treatment of herpes.”