If you forget where have you put your keys, glasses or the name of an acquaintance? Well, having memory changes is a normal part of aging. But are you taking longer time to remember things? This type of memory problem is serious. May be you are suffering from Alzheimer's.

Alzheimer's is a complex disease. It is a form of dementia, an illness that gradually destroys brain cells. It is a progressive disease it slowly damages an individual’s ability to function on a day to day basis. It was actually discovered in 1906 by a German physician, Alois Alzheimer. According to studies, it is the advancing age that is the greatest risk to acquiring this awful disease.

Symptoms of Alzheimer’s are:

• Memory deficits

• Inability to learn new information

• Ineffective judgment and reasoning skills

• Inefficient communication.
  

Herpes plays a role in bringing Alzheimer's disease:

There is a strong link between the herpes simplex virus and Alzheimer's disease. The virus that causes cold sores when passed on through kissing could help trigger Alzheimer's. A gene known to be a major risk factor for Alzheimer's disease puts out the welcome mat for the virus that causes cold sores, allowing the virus to be more active in the brain compared to other forms of the gene.

If you get cold sores, that tingling feeling on your lip that signals the start of an outbreak is something you probably dread. But now there is something else to be concerned about.
Currently affecting 10 per cent of people over 65, it causes a steady decline in memory with diagnosis of the condition now approximately 87% - 94% accurate.

Here we found brain cells are exposed to the herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) produce large quantities of a chemical that builds up and prevents the transmission of messages in the brains of Alzheimer's sufferers. HSV-1 is present in 80 per cent of the adult population. Researchers have expressed hope that the discovery could pave the way for a vaccine that can help prevent the brain disorder.

How it spreads:

• It is passed on mainly through saliva

• Also through sexual contact.

People who are frequently troubled by cold sores are more likely to have the gene that makes them more vulnerable to Alzheimer's disease.

According to the studies, brains infected with the herpes simplex virus 'HSV-1' saw a rise in a protein linked to Alzheimer's. Previous studies also established that HSV-1 is found in the brains of up to 70% of people with Alzheimer's.

The virus usually remains dormant in the body, but can become more active and cause cold sores in response to other factors such as ill health or stress.