Back to Journals » Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment » Volume 6 » Issue 1
Could lysine supplementation prevent Alzheimer’s dementia? A novel hypothesis
Authors Rubey R
Published 27 October 2010 Volume 2010:6(1) Pages 707—710
DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S14338
Review by Single anonymous peer review
Peer reviewer comments 4
Robert N Rubey
Retired, Red Lodge, Montana, USA
Abstract: There is a growing body of evidence that implicates the herpes simplex type 1 virus (HSV-1) in the development of Alzheimer’s dementia (AD). HSV-1 has been found to be present in the cerebrum of the great majority of older adults, and in many of the same areas of the brain that are affected by AD. When active, the virus may contribute to the formation of the neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid plaques characteristic of AD. Like AD, HSV-1 encephalitis may cause long term memory loss. HSV-1 replication is suppressed in lysine-rich/arginine – poor environments, and population studies suggest that diets high in lysine and low in arginine may be associated with lower rates of AD. There are no prospective studies of the efficacy of lysine supplementation to prevent or reduce the incidence of AD. Supplementation with adequate doses of lysine could prevent the development of AD.
Keywords: lysine, herpes, Alzheimer’s dementia, HSV-1
© 2010 The Author(s). This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License. By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.