Sex Very transmitted infections (STIs) could lead to more than an awkward conversation with his last adventure.
Research suggests that certain STIs can increase their possibilities to develop dementia, a memory theft disease that affects one in 10 older adults in the US.
That is worrying, considering that the ITS are booming throughout the country, with more than 2.4 million cases reported only in 2023. Even more worrying, infections in adults 65 years or more have more than duplicated in the last decade.
With research that shows that older adults are less likely to obtain regular STIs and many medical care providers that are neglected to discuss sexual health with these patients, the age group can be particularly vulnerable to long -term decrease.
Here are four STIs that could increase their dementia development chans.
Herpes
If you thought Herpes was just a case of annoying cold problems, think again.
Between 50% and 80% of Americans have oral herpes (HSV-1), and 1 in 6 people from 14 to 49 years in the United States have genital herpes (HSV-2), according to Johns Hopkins.
But here is the kicking: the virus responsible for herpes can enter the brain and lying inactive, only to reactivate later. When he does, some studies suggest that he could trigger inflammation in the brain, potentially damaging brain cells and increasing the risk of dementia.
In fact, people with HSV-1, HSV-2, or both, have up to 2.44 times more likely to develop dementia compared to those who have never infected the legs, according to a 2024 study of the medical branch of the University of Texas.
“These findings underline the need for more research on the mechanisms that underline HSV’s contribution to cognitive impairment and if such mechanisms can be directed as a preventive strategy against dementia,” said Dr. Giulio Taglialatel, author and senior director of the Moody Brain Institute in UTMB.
Syphilis
Syphilis is making a great return in the US., And is not only affecting the young crowd: cases among adults of 55 years or more have increased by almost 700% since 2010.
While syphilis is treatable with penicillin and other antibiotics, if not addressed, infection can affect each and every one of organ systems. A particularly serious complication is neurosifilis, where bacteria invade the brain and spinal cord, causing inflammation and Damag brain tissue.
In its subsequent internships, neurosifilis can lead to syphilitic dementia, which generally develops 10 to 25 years after the initial infection. Symptoms include memory loss, confusion, personality changes, problems to concentrate, depression and equal delusions.
The good news? Experts say that dementia related to neurosyphilis is “potentially reversible”, but only if it is trapped and treated early.
Genital warts
CDC estimates that around 400,000 people in the United States live with genital warts at a given time.
Genital warts are a common state based on certain strains of human papilloma (HPV). HPV can contribute to cerebral inflammation, an important factor in the development of dementia.
A 2020 study that uses health insurance of 16,000 patients in Taiwan found that people with genital warts caused by HPV had a 49% higher risk of developing dementia. Research also shows that cervical cancer, linked to HPV, is associated with a risk of dementia.
Fortunately, the HPV vaccine protects against the strains responsible for most genital warts, and is highly effective in preventing genital warts and cervical cancer.
HIV/AIDS
Almost 1.2 million people in the United States live with HIV.
When the virus spreads to the brain, it triggers inflammation, damages brain cells and releases harmful toxins, all of which contribute to cognitive deterioration and, in severe cases, they can lead to dementia associated with HIV.
In a 2022 study, researchers compared 13,000 permanent Kaiser patients with HIV with more than 155,000 people without the virus. They discovered that 2.5% of people with HIV were diagnosed with dementia during a monitoring period of 16 years, compared to only 1.3% of those who do not.
On average, people with HIV were diagnosed with dementia 10 years before those who do not have the disease.
“Effective medications have transformed HIV into a management condition for most patients,” said Dr. Jennifer Lam, a research scientist at the Kaiser Permanent Research Division who directed the study. “That is why it is important to address the health concerns that the aging entails.”
