(Science Blog) – Common viruses lying dormant in our brains might be awakened by head trauma, potentially triggering processes that lead to conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, according to new research from Tufts and Oxford universities.
The finding could explain the long-observed connection between head injuries and later neurological problems, while suggesting new preventive strategies.
The study, published in Science Signaling, reveals how concussions and other head trauma might set off a chain of events leading to neurodegeneration, particularly in people carrying herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), which is present in over 80% of the population. CONTINUE