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Ask the doctor
Image: © Dr_Microbe / Getty Images
Q. I know that some viruses live permanently inside us, but only create problems from time to time. I've even heard recently that they could be a cause of Alzheimer's disease. Why do they sometimes cause illness and can we prevent that from happening?
A. We live all our lives with different microorganisms on us and inside of us. An example is the family of herpes viruses. On more than one hundred herpesviruses, nine infect humans. Once infected with these viruses – usually early in life – they stay with us, "asleep" in some of our cells. But periodically, they "wake up" (reactivate), start producing multiple copies of themselves and infect other cells. This is what happens when a cold sore suddenly forms on your lips.
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