This virus is transmitted through kiss: It can damage brain and lead to dementia

What virus is transmitted through kissing

Scientists warn that the herpes virus can spread from the nose to the nervous system, causing brain inflammation and serious long-term health problems, including dementia.

In addition, the virus can be transmitted through a normal kiss. A team of researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago found that herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is able to use a cellular enzyme to penetrate the nervous system.

Studies have also shown that this can lead to neurological and behavioral symptoms. The author of the study, Prof. Deepak Shukla, says that among other things, there is a risk of contracting the virus during intimate contact.

According to him, any situation where a healthy person's nose comes into contact with virus particles from an infected partner increases the risk of infection.

Herpes is more dangerous than you think

Two-thirds of the world's population has this virus. HSV-1 is extremely common. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly two-thirds of the world's population is a carrier. Most infections are asymptomatic, but symptoms of herpes can include painful blisters and sores on or around the lips, which usually recur.

The virus spreads mainly through contact with wounds, saliva, or the skin around the mouth. Less commonly, it can also be transmitted to the genital area through oral-genital contact, causing genital herpes.

HSV-2, which belongs to the same family of viruses, is transmitted mainly during sex through contact with the genital or anal surfaces, skin, wounds, or body fluids of an infected person.

Professor Shukla emphasized that a person with herpes can transmit the virus through a kiss. It also happens that HSV-1 is responsible for genital herpes, which can occur, for example, as a result of oral sex.

A study published in the journal mBio found that after entering the nose, the virus can reach the brain more quickly with the help of an enzyme called heparanase (HPSE).

This causes inflammation and, in the long term, can lead to neurological damage.

This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.