Dr. Howard Smith Oncall

Vidcast: https://www.instagram.com/p/DF_ERAiufqD/Repetitive head trauma activates latent viruses that, in turn, create the neurologic damage characteristic of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s dementia.  This the conclusion from studies by Boston’s Tuft’s University bioengineers just published in the journalScienceSignaling.Using a 3Din vitrohuman brain model, their studies show that latent or sleepingherpes simplex virus type 1in brain tissue is reactivated into life by repeated brain trauma.  This now active virus then creates neuroinflammation with accumulation of the debris found in cases of Alzheimer’s dementia and chronic traumatic encephalopathy, namely beta amyloid and phosphorylated tau.The takeaway: repeat blows to your head or to the heads of your children during sports contests like football, trigger a herpes virus induced degeneration of brain tissue and dementia.  Avoid head trauma and, when you can’t, wear protective head gear.https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scisignal.ado6430