Individuals who suffer head trauma from sports, accidents, or other causes often go on to develop neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's or Alzheimer's. A new study sheds light on why that might be and offers a way to prevent it.

Multiple blows to the head can more than double the chance of having a neurodegenerative condition - oakstudio22/iStockphoto Head injuries may “wake up” dormant viruses in the brain and trigger dementia,

The study reveals a potential link between concussions and the activation of dormant viruses, which may lead to neurodegenerative diseases.

Concussions and repetitive head trauma in sports like football and boxing, once accepted as an unpleasant consequence of intense athletic competition, are now recognized as serious health threats.&nbs