Read the full article for more details on why the study may have failed and what it means for the idea that the herpes virus could cause Alzheimer's.
6/6
Simon Spichak
@spichaksimon.bsky.social
652 Followers
547 Following
Neuroscience MSc 🦔 dad
Founded Resolvve Inc to make therapy affordable for students
Science, health and tech journalist published in Being Patient, NYT, The Guardian's Scientific Observer, The Sick Times, and The Daily Beast
-
-
The trial used valacyclovir, an antiviral drug for herpes infections. Ultimately, the study found valacyclovir failed to slow cognitive decline in people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or early Alzheimer’s over 78 weeks.
5/6
-
At the 2025 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, Dr. Davangere P. Devanand, a psychiatrist and director of geriatric psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center, presented data from the first randomized clinical trial to test this theory.
4/6
-
But so far, supporting evidence has come only from observational studies of electronic health records, and from animal or cell-based lab experiments, which don’t always translate to clinical care.
3/6
-
For decades, scientists have speculated that a common infection — the herpes virus — might contribute to, or even cause, Alzheimer’s disease later in life.
2/6
-
Can antivirals against herpes treat early-stage Alzheimer's? At #AAIC2025, researchers presented data from a clinical trial showing no effect.
My latest for @beingpatient.bsky.social
beingpatient.com/cold-sore-vi...
1/6
Cold Sore Virus Concept for Alzheimer’s Takes a Hit in Drug Trial | Being Patient
A long-standing theory linked herpes to Alzheimer’s — but the first clinical trial of an antiviral herpes drug found no benefit.
-
Thanks for reading - I've followed up with the Ministry to get more info and the number of people affected
-
Delayed Disability Benefit Leaves Canadians Struggling, Facing Bank Fees They Can't Afford
Customers with TD and BMO are affected but it isn't clear how many or when the situation will be fixed.
My reporting on the #CDB delay.
simonspichak.beehiiv.com/p/canada-dis...
Delayed Disability Benefit Leaves Canadians Struggling, Facing Bank Fees They Can't Afford
Customers banking with TD and BMO are affected but it isn't clear how many or when the situation will be fixed.
-
The vast majority of studies aren't breakthroughs and that's ok! Even negative findings, that might contradict what you expected, can be valuable if the study is conducted well.
11/11 🧵
-
Research is exciting - but overhyping and overselling the findings is not helpful for anyone.
Things that might help cells in a dish or mice probably won't translate to people. And biology doesn't always come with a neat, easy-to-understand story.
10/n 🧵
