Viral infections like influenza and herpes increase the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's later in life , according to a study led by Ole Isacson, professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School. The reason is that inflammation resulting from viral infections can initiate and propagate cellular damage in the brain, which over time could accumulate, and lead to neurodegenerative diseases.

A single bout of flu doesn't cause significant damage but contracting the infection regularly increases the risk of developing the debilitating brain diseases, Isacson said.
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