According to research from Johns Hopkins University, common infections have been linked to reduced performance on a test of global function. The study examined the associations between positive antibody tests for herpes simplex virus, cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), varicella zoster virus (VZV) and Toxoplasma gondii with performance on the Mini-Mental State Examination, a standard test of cognition, and delayed verbal recall performance. The results showed that the presence of antibodies for cytomegalovirus or herpes simplex virus and evidence of having multiple common infections were associated with poorer scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination. With an increase in exposure to infectious agents as people age, those aged 70 years and older have a HSV-1 seropositivity prevalence of about 90%. This study is adding to the growing evidence that some common infections are linked to cognitive impairment, which is getting more mainstream attention. The study was published in the Alzheimer’s & Dementia journal.
