Common viral infection can trigger Alzheimer's, shock new research suggests - raising hope that a cheap, widely available drug could prevent deadly disease

A 'harmless' virus carried by half of all adults could raise the risk of Alzheimer's, shock research suggested today. NICE also said it had identified 27 other drugs which it 'expects to be asked to evaluate over the next few years' Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia. Dr Ben Readhead, study co-author and associate professor in neurodegenerative diseases at Arizona State University, said: 'We think we found a biologically unique subtype of Alzheimer's that may affect 25 per cent to 45 per cent of people with this disease.' 'This subtype of Alzheimer's includes the hallmark amyloid plaques and tau tangles—microscopic brain abnormalities used for diagnosis—and features a distinct biological profile of virus, antibodies and immune cells in the brain.' Alzheimer's Research UK analysis found 74,261 people died from dementia in 2022 compared with 69,178 a year earlier, making it the country's biggest killer.