Concussions and repeated head injuries are no longer considered mere occupational hazards from contact sports. They are now recognized as a serious health concern.
According to recent research, tufts university and oxford university Researchers have uncovered a potential link between head trauma and the activation of dormant viruses in the brain, which can lead to long-term neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.
The survey results were published in a magazine science signalingsuggesting that early preventive treatment with antiviral drugs may help reduce these risks.
The hidden threat of latent viruses
There are many latent viruses in our bodies, including herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and varicella-zoster virus. They are normally present in neurons and glial cells without causing any harm.
Lead author Dana Cairns, a research fellow in Tufts University’s Department of Biomedical Engineering, explained the earlier findings.
“In that study, another virus, chickenpox, caused an inflammatory state that activated HSV-1. We wondered what would happen if we exposed the brain tissue model to a physical disruption similar to a concussion. Will HSV-1 wake up and start the neurodegenerative process?”
This question has prompted a new study investigating how concussions trigger these latent viruses.
Mimic brain trauma in the lab
To investigate this, researchers developed a unique brain tissue model. This model is a 6mm wide donut-shaped sponge made of silk protein and collagen injected with neural stem cells.
The stem cells matured into neurons and glial cells, forming networks similar to those in a real brain, and some harbored dormant HSV-1. The researchers simulated a concussion by placing the model inside a cylinder and delivering a sudden shock with a piston.
After delivering this controlled shock to the tissue, Dr. Cairns observed that the virus reactivated in models containing HSV-1.
Following this reactivation, the tissue began to show key markers of Alzheimer’s disease: amyloid plaques, tau protein tangles, inflammation, neuronal cell death, and a proliferation of glial cells (a condition known as gliosis). Repeated shocks strengthened these effects.
In contrast, tissue models without HSV-1 showed only mild gliosis and no other indicators of Alzheimer’s disease.
Concussion and latent virus
The results strongly suggest that concussions can awaken dormant viruses in the brain, causing neurodegenerative conditions over time.
“This raises the question of whether antiviral and anti-inflammatory drugs may be useful as early preventive treatments after head trauma to halt HSV-1 activation and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. “We will raise the issue,” Dr Cairns said.
This represents a potential new direction in post-concussion care, aimed at preventing long-term damage associated with repeated head trauma.
groundbreaking brain model
David Kaplan, Stern Family Endowed Professor in the Tufts University School of Engineering and co-author of the study, emphasized the importance of laboratory-based brain models.
“Brain tissue models take us to a new level in investigating the links between injury, infection, and Alzheimer’s disease,” he said.
This model allows researchers to recreate a realistic brain environment where they can monitor viral behavior, plaque formation, and inflammatory responses to simulated trauma.
“There is a wealth of epidemiological evidence about environmental and other associations with Alzheimer’s disease risk. Tissue models help put that information on a mechanistic basis and provide a starting point for testing new drugs. “It helps,” he added.
This model therefore serves as an important tool to bridge the gap between large-scale health data and the specific biological processes underlying neurodegenerative diseases.
Targeted interventions for concussion
The findings highlight the potential for antiviral or anti-inflammatory treatments after head trauma to prevent reactivation of latent viruses such as HSV-1.
This approach may reduce the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases later in life. Additionally, this study highlights the broader importance of understanding how environmental factors and bodily responses interact after trauma.
Scientists hope to continue refining these brain models to further investigate how concussions affect brain chemistry and develop targeted interventions.
Such advances could benefit not only athletes but also the countless individuals around the world who suffer from traumatic brain injury, potentially transforming post-injury care and long-term health outcomes.
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