Over 55 million people worldwide suffer from Alzheimer’s and dementia, with origins still unknown. Brain organoids, 3D clumps of neuronal tissue, are being used to study the brain and test controversial ideas. A study in Massachusetts found that repeated blows to the head could reactivate a dormant herpes simplex virus in the brain, leading to Alzheimer’s-like features. Despite initial skepticism, research shows viruses can cause inflammation and other viruses could be linked to neurodegenerative diseases. The use of brain organoids is shedding light on the complex roots of dementia, potentially paving the way for earlier interventions and treatments.
https://nautil.us/a-missing-link-between-concussion-and-alzheimers-1184691/