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Herpes simplex infection and the risk of Alzheimer's disease: A nested case‐control study
Author(s) -
Lövheim Hugo,
Gilthorpe Jonathan,
Johansson Anders,
Eriksson Sture,
Hallmans Göran,
Elgh Fredrik
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1016/j.jalz.2014.07.157
Subject(s) - herpes simplex virus , antibody , nested case control study , immunology , medicine , odds ratio , etiology , dementia , immunoglobulin g , disease , case control study , immunoglobulin m , virus
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.