Fatal blow: Researchers have discovered that head injuries can activate dormant viruses within us.

Repeated head injuries, including mild concussions, have long been associated by scientists with an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. A new study has unveiled a potential mechanism for this connection, suggesting that such injuries may reactivate dormant viruses, such as herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), in the brain, according to University of Oxford.

In the research published in the journal Science Signaling, scientists utilized a sophisticated 3D bioengineering model of human brain tissue to simulate the effects of mild repetitive organ trauma. When the tissues were subjected to simulated impact, dormant HSV-1 was reactivated, leading to a cascade of harmful events.

The scientific work demonstrated that this viral activation stimulates inflammation, the accumulation of beta-amyloid plaques, and the formation of toxic tau proteins—hallmarks of Alzheimer's pathology. These findings bolster the theory that infections and physical brain injuries together may exacerbate the risk of developing the disease.

Professor Ruth Itzhaki, a leading figure in this field with over thirty years of experience and the author of the study, emphasized the importance of understanding these mechanisms. She explained that dormant viruses reactivated by head trauma can easily trigger inflammation and neuronal damage observed in dementia.

Her research began at the University of Manchester, where her team first detected HSV-1 DNA in a significant portion of the aging human brain, indicating the virus's persistent presence. Soon, researchers found that blocking the inflammatory molecule interleukin-1 beta significantly reduces the harmful effects of trauma-induced viral reactivation in their models.

This discovery has led them to express hope that treatments aimed at combating inflammation may mitigate the progression of neurodegeneration in at-risk individuals, such as those with a history of repeated head injuries. Complicating the issue and the scale of Alzheimer's risk further, previous studies have pointed to the role of other viruses, such as varicella-zoster virus (VZV), in similar processes. Such results once again highlight the multifactorial nature of Alzheimer's disease, where genetics, infections, and environmental factors like injuries interact, influencing disease development.

This research represents a step towards more personalized interventions, potentially including antiviral therapy and anti-inflammatory treatment for individuals at increased risk of developing dementia, according to the authors. Preventing head injuries remains critically important, especially for athletes, military personnel, and others working in high-risk environments.

Important! This article is based on the latest scientific and medical research and does not contradict them. The text is for informational purposes only and does not contain medical advice. For diagnosis, be sure to consult a doctor.