Head Injuries May Reactivate Viruses and Increase the Risk of Neurological Diseases

13th January 2025

2 minutes read

Head Injuries May Reactivate Viruses and Increase the Risk of Neurological Diseases

A new study has shown that severe head trauma can reactivate latent viruses in the body, thereby increasing the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases.

The study identified the impact of head injuries on the immune system and its interaction with the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), which may play a role in the development of diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

Researchers used “mini-brains” created from stem cells to study how physical injuries influence latent viruses. Dana Cairns, a biomedical engineer at Tufts University, asked: “What would happen if brain tissues were exposed to a physical disturbance similar to a concussion? Could HSV-1 awaken and begin a neurodegenerative process?”

According to Science Alert, the study’s results indicate that mild and repetitive injuries can reactivate the virus, leading to the formation of protein tangles in brain tissues, a hallmark of degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. Neurological inflammation and an increase in pro-inflammatory immune cells in the brain were also observed.

Traumatic brain injuries, such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), may contribute to the risk of neurodegenerative diseases. Research suggests that chronic inflammation resulting from head trauma can cause cumulative damage.

Previous studies have identified HSV-1 genes in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, raising the possibility that the virus may be linked to memory loss and cognitive decline. In recent experiments on isolated brain slices, significant effects were observed following physical injuries, including a reduction in the release of the neurotransmitter glutamate in brains affected by HSV-1.

Additionally, the mini-brains simulating advanced developmental stages showed better recovery after injury compared to those subjected to less severe trauma.

The researchers concluded that traumatic brain injuries might reactivate HSV-1 in the brain, increasing the risk of neurodegenerative diseases.

The team emphasizes the need for future studies to find ways to mitigate this damage, such as antiviral and anti-inflammatory treatments post-injury, to reduce the virus’s impact on the brain and prevent disease progression.