Could COVID-19 Lead to Alzheimer’s? New study

The consequences of COVID-19 infection include the so-called long tail that is associated with a number of ailments. These include, among others, brain fog. Dementia similar to that occurring in Alzheimer’s disease may also be a neurological complication after the disease.

1. SARS-CoV-2 is a virus that can wreak havoc in the organisms of not only sick but also survivors. Scientists say, among others with an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease
2. Dementia similar to that seen in Alzheimer’s disease has joined the list of potential diseases
3. Scientists analyzed the genetic risk factors that enable the virus to infect a patient’s brain
4. More information can be found on the Onet homepage.

Coronavirus and dementia. What have the scientists discovered?

A study published in Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy sheds new light on the potential side effects of COVID-19 infection. Among the neurological disorders that SARS-CoV-2 can lead to, scientists have also identified dementia similar to that experienced by Alzheimer’s patients.

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It is estimated that ailments called COVID-19 long tail may affect up to 10 percent. (WHO data) up to 30 percent. convalescents (study by scientists from Great Britain). Among the long-term consequences of infection, there are, among others, brain fog. The latest research has looked at how SARS-CoV-2 can permanently affect brain function.

Some studies suggest that SARS-CoV-2 infects brain cells directly, but others strongly rule it out because the authors found no evidence of the virus in the brain, writes Dr. Feixiong Cheng of the Cleveland Clinic Institute of Genomic Medicine, lead author of the study. Meanwhile, identifying how COVID-19 and neurological problems relate is critical to developing effective preventive and therapeutic strategies to help counter the rapid increase in neurocognitive disorders that we expect to see in the near future.

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In their study, the researchers used artificial intelligence to analyze data sets from patients suffering from COVID-19 and Alzheimer’s disease. They found that the virus shares several pathways with the mechanisms that cause inflammation in the nervous system and also impair the functions of the cerebral microcirculation. Researchers also found a close association of the virus with genes / proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists believe that COVID-19 can lead to dementia similar to that seen in the course of the disease.

‘We found that SARS-CoV-2 infection significantly altered the markers of Alzheimer’s encephalitis and that certain virus-related factors were extremely strongly expressed in blood-brain barrier cells,’ explained Dr Cheng. This shows that the virus is able to affect several genes or pathways involved in inflammation of the nervous system and damage to the brain’s microcirculation, which can lead to Alzheimer’s-like cognitive decline.

Who Is More At Risk Of Dementia After COVID-19?

Researchers also set out to see if there were any genetic predispositions to develop dementia and other neurological symptoms in survivors.

They managed to establish that the APOE e4 / e4 genotype is the risk factor, which is also associated with the possibility of Alzheimer’s disease. People with this genotype had decreased antiviral defense gene expression, making them more susceptible to COVID-19.

‘We hope to have paved the way for further research that will identify new biomarkers to search for patients with the highest risk of neurological complications after COVID-19,’ added Dr. Feixiong Cheng.

Also read:

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2. The COVID-19 Plague in India. The villagers pray for an end to the pandemic
3. How many Polish teenagers have been vaccinated against COVID-19? MZ replies
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