New research suggests that repeated head injuries can trigger a chain reaction, reactivating a dormant virus (HSV-1) and leading to changes in the brain that resemble those seen in Alzheimer's disease.
Studies have shown that repeated head injuries, such as concussions, can lead to the build-up of proteins in the brain called tau, which disrupts normal function and leads to dementia symptoms. Researchers have suggested this may be triggered by a chain reaction that could start with just a mild brain trauma.
In previous studies, the researchers demonstrated the roles that common viruses, such as herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) - the so-called cold sore virus - and varicella zoster virus (VZV) - which causes chickenpox - may play in this process. HSV-1 can lie dormant in human cells for a lifetime, but when it re-awakens it can cause changes that resemble changes observed in Alzheimer’s patients’ brains. This includes amyloid plaque-like formations (PLFs), gliosis, neuroinflammation, and decreased functionality. Signaling, the researchers used a small, 3D, bioengineered human brain tissue model to test the effects of physical trauma on the brain cells. When the brain tissues were exposed to repeated 'mild blows,' similar to concussions, the previously dormant HSV-1 virus became active. This reactivation triggered inflammation, beta-amyloid plaque build-up, and the formation of harmful tau proteins, which can damage brain cells and impair memory. It offers hope for potential new treatments for those at risk. Professor Ruth Itzhaki, who led the research, has been researching the potential role of HSV-1 in AD for more than 30 years. She said: “Head injuries are already recognised as a major risk factor, as are the cumulative effect of common infections, for conditions such as Alzheimer’s and dementia, but this is the first time we have been able to demonstrate a mechanism for that process”,
HEAD INJURIES DEMENTIA VIRUSES ALZHEIMER's DISEASE BRAIN FUNCTION
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