Common Infections may Increase the Risk of Memory Decline

A recent study suggests that common infections such as herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2 may increase the risk of memory decline.

According to researchers from the McKnight Brain Institute at the University of Miami, they found that certain antibody levels caused by exposure to such common infections as Helicobacter pylori, cytomegalovirus, and herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2 could hinder cognitive performance.

"We were very interested in what were the risk factors for cognitive performance and decline," said lead researcher Dr. Clinton Wright, scientific director of the Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute at the University of Miami, via a press release.

For the study, researchers examined 588 people who gave blood samples and took brain function tests. Five years later, half of the participants took the cognitive tests-showing that exposure to certain infections increased the risk for certain health issues, including stroke, inflammation and atherosclerosis. However, the study authors are still perplexed as to the link between infections and cognitive decline.

"It could be caused by an immune system response to the infections or the infection itself could result in clinical damage that we're not aware of," Wright said, suggesting further that people take immediate steps to fight the onset of infection.

However, he also concludes that researchers are still far away from treatments to prevent the issues.

"It would be great if treatment prevented these bad outcomes, but we're very far away from having that type of evidence."

More information regarding the findings were presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2014.