‘The long-term impact of the coronavirus on our bodies and brains remains a topic of discussion to everyone. Scientists have found a strong association between COVID-19 and persistent cognitive deficits, including the acceleration of Alzheimer’s disease pathology and symptoms in patients.
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Apart from respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms of COVID-19, people suffering from the illness also complain of short- and/or long-term neuropsychiatric symptoms like loss of smell and taste, and cognitive and attention deficits (brain fog).
Researchers around the world are working to explore the reasons behind these neurological symptoms manifestations. An international, multidisciplinary consortium that includes scientists from the Alzheimer’s Association and the World Health Organization (WHO) are engaged in collecting and evaluating the long-term consequences of COVID-19 on the central nervous system across different countries.
The study team evaluated 310 patients admitted to New York University Langone Health with COVID-19 between three and six months after COVID-19 infection. The plasma samples were also collected.
Neurological Ailments in COVID-19
It was found that persistent neurological problems especially confusion due to toxic-metabolic encephalopathy (TME) was prevalent in 158 (more than half) participants. And 152 patients had no neurologic symptoms.
Around one in four people had additional problems with cognition including language and executive dysfunction along with loss of smell function.
The reports also found that biological markers of brain injury, neuroinflammation, and Alzheimer’s are very strongly associated with the presence of neurological symptoms in COVID-19 patients.
These patients have easy drop in blood oxygen levels even after a brief physical exertion. The individuals suffering from neurological symptoms also have poor overall physical condition.
“These new data point to disturbing trends showing COVID-19 infections leading to lasting cognitive impairment and even Alzheimer’s symptoms. With more than 190 million cases and nearly 4 million deaths worldwide, COVID-19 has devastated the entire world. It is imperative that we continue to study what this virus is doing to our bodies and brains. The Alzheimer’s Association and its partners are leading, but more research is needed,” says Heather M. Snyder, Ph.D., Alzheimer’s Association vice president of medical and scientific relations.
The study thereby emphasizes the fact that there is clear lineage between COVID-19 and neurological problems especially Alzheimer’s-related symptoms and pathology.
Source: Medindia
