Does cold sore affect your memory?

• April 24, 2024

An investigation published in the magazine Neurology suggests that the virus that triggers cold sores, as well as other viral and bacterial infections, could affect your memory.

The researchers of the Columbia and Miami universities They detail that people who have blood infections like herpes simplex virus type 1 are more likely to register cognitive problems than those who did not have bacteria in their blood.

Mira Katan, of the Medical Center of the University of Columbia in New York, details that the link between cold sores and memory problems is greater among women and people who do not perform any type of exercise.

The researchers analyzed the case of 1,625 people, with an average age of 69 years, who underwent blood tests to detect common infections such as herpes simplex 1 and 2, cytomegalovirus, chlamydia pneumoniae and helicobacter pylori.

In addition, they underwent an exam to know their mental abilities. The results highlight that people with infections had a 25% lower risk of obtaining a low score.

Although the researchers reveal that the association between cold sores and memory loss should be studied in more depth, they point out that exercise and vaccination against the virus can reduce the risk of future cognitive problems. And you, how do you prevent cold sores?