Repeated head injuries suffered by sports players and military personnel — a known risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease — may induce dementia by reactivating the dormant herpes virus in neural tissues, according to laboratory experiments.

A recent study by Tufts and Oxford universities reveals that head trauma can activate dormant herpes viruses in the brain, causing inflammation and accelerating Alzheimer's disease. The findings suggest antiviral drugs could be crucial as early preventive treatments to mitigate Alzheimer's risk post-head injuries.