SARS-CoV-2 infects neurons using cathepsins, causing tau changes linked to Alzheimer’s and neuron death within days
This suggests neurodegenerative risks and potential for cathepsin inhibitors as treatment
“The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 presents a wide spectrum of neurological manifestations."
"Although there is an improvement in the survival rate of patients with COVID-19, the frequency of neurological manifestations increases."
"The occurrence of delirium, cerebrovascular diseases, and ischemic stroke results in higher mortality."
“Signs of brain inflammation were present up to 18 months after first contracting the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
‘We show that the brainstem is a site of vulnerability to long-term effects of COVID-19, with persistent changes evident in the months after hospitalization,’ the authors of the study conclude.”
“If you’re not noticing the (obvious) cognitive impairment in practically everyone around you, it may be due to your own cognitive decline.
Or denial is rearing its ugly head once again.
Perhaps it’s easier for me considering my background, but honestly, it’s so bloody palpable.”
SARS-CoV-2 preferentially infects astrocytes, which support neuron function, potentially leading to symptoms like fatigue and confusion.
SARS-CoV-2 can also infect pericytes, leading to restricted blood flow and small-vessel strokes.
“GreyBut what every single one of these studies fail to mention is that the reduction in grey matter occurs in 100% of individuals"
A thread with studies:
It’s not “empathy burnout.” It’s Covid brain damage. From neuropathologist: “Covid damages the frontal lobe of the brain.
Many areas of the frontal lobe are essential to the execution of empathy.
Most people are on their 3rd/4th+ infection/s already.
But it’s ‘empathy burnout”’
At least they’re recognising the loss of function I suppose. Many can’t.”
Limbic system damage from Covid:
SARS-CoV-2 is a neurotropic virus that may cause long-term neurological symptoms by damaging the limbic system.
This research shows that COVID-19 can impair emotion recognition, memory, and olfactory abilities, with altered brain connectivity patterns.
“The buddy from college I talk about every now and again.
He’s prolly 50 or so. He posted this a few days ago. He has already had a rough go of it, he has a daughter he is devoted to, and who loves him immensely.
I am as sad as I am angry. “
“Ugh. The more we learn about it, the uglier it looks.
This, again, speaks to my point about tail risk in an emergent situation: it’s at least as bad as it looks. It may be worse.
We are badly underestimating the consequences of delayed risk. It’s a reckless approach. (1/)”
Nearly half of those infected with SARS-CoV-2 experience long-term neurological problems, including brain fog and memory issues.
An infection may accelerate or exacerbate prion diseases like Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease, leading to rapid neurodegeneration.
“Worse, most people don’t even notice it has happened to themselves.
But I can tell you we who continue to mask and have many fewer COVID infections can see the growing cognitive damage in more and more people around us.
Memory problems, like recall and word finding delays. Weakness and fatigue and motor control impairment. Growing executive function and emotional regulation deficits.
More and more friends disables and forced out of work or school by Long COVID symptoms.
It’s scary to witness the broad societal decline, and dispiriting to see so many governments and Public Health agencies persist in minimizing the growing problem.”
“Can I reassert that with SARS-CoV-2 induced brain damage, it won’t be a lessening of intellect that you’ll be seeing first, but behavioural changes such as disinhibition, emotional lability, risk taking & impulsivity.
Frontal lobe damage impairs behavioural regulation.” Thread:
Covid itself causes cognitive impairment. From 2020, prior to Covid vaccination of any kind:
“In our cohort of COVID-19 patients neurologic manifestations were frequent, including cognitive impairment.”
“COVID-19 survivors show signs of significant cognitive deficits which could become dementia even a year after having the virus.. The team [in India] found that more than 80% of people tested reported at least one of four symptoms – depression, anxiety, stress and insomnia – ranging from mild to severe.. At least 6.1% of the patients were diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment and 4% developed dementia. More than 60% of the patients experienced a loss of taste and smell during the active phase of the infection. This could alter the function of brain areas linked to cognitive ability and emotional well-being.."
“Recorded this video on the microscope yesterday. A single #SARSCoV2 infected cell arrives on the brain inside a blood vessel. Don't underestimate how much neuroinflammation one infected cell can cause. Brain-vascular-immune interface is the future of neuroscience #NeuroCovid”
A new paper in Cell, “Pioneering discovery and therapeutics at the brain-vascular-immune interface,” describes COVID-19 as a neurological disease alongside multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, stroke and traumatic brain injury.
“COVID-19 can accelerate progression of dementia and induce BBB disruption and inflammatory blood clots causally linked with neuroinflammation and neuronal loss.8 In neurodevelopmental disorders, prematurity and perinatal hypoxia that trigger brain hemorrhage and BBB disruption are risk factors for cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, and autism. Collectively, these risk factors highlight the interconnected vascular and immune triggers of neurological diseases.”
A 43% increase cognitive disabilities since 2019.
“This is tragic and horrifying. And it’s going to get progressively worse as we’re all systematically reinfected.”
