Neuroimmune Dysfunction Facilitates COVID-19-Associated Neurological C
A review of the neurological manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infection and long-term effects
Even mild COVID can cause brain shrinkage and affect mental function, new study shows
“Brain changes including shrinkage, weakened connections and poorer performance on thinking and memory tests could explain ‘brain fog’ after COVID – even after ‘mild’ cases.”
SARS-CoV-2 and HSV-1 Induce Amyloid Aggregation in Human CSF Resulting in Drastic Soluble Protein Depletion
SARS-CoV-2 and HSV-1 induce amyloid aggregation, depleting soluble proteins.
Suggests a link between viral infections and neurodegenerative diseases via protein loss.
COVID & the BRAIN… a thread 🧵
Hamsters with long Covid exhibits a neurodegenerative signature in the brainstem
“Using the golden hamster as a model, we provide further evidence that SARS-CoV-2 is neuroinvasive and can persist in the central nervous system, as we found viral RNA and replicative virus in the brainstem after 80 days of infection.”
Persistence of spike protein at the skull-meninges-brain axis may contribute to the neurological sequelae of COVID-19
Evidence that a COVID-19 infection can induce neurological sequelae.
The SARSCoV2 spike protein can persist in the brain—skull bone marrow and meninges—to induce neurologic damage
SARS-CoV-2 spike protein accumulates & persists in the body for years after infection, especially in the skull-meninges-brain axis, potentially driving long COVID. mRNA vaccines help but cannot stop it.
In mice, it caused inflammation, anxiety, and worsened brain injuries. Vaccines reduced but did not fully eliminate it.
Cognitive deficits after COVID-19 associated with brain injury biomarkers and volume loss
“Cognitive deficits after COVID-19 associated with brain injury biomarkers and volume loss”
Honestly it kinda pisses me off how some people act like we can't talk about the brain damage from Covid, especially on the population level.
“Honestly it kinda pisses me off how some people act like we can't talk about the brain damage from Covid, especially on the population level. Yes, it's important to consider the ableism. But I have brain damage from Covid, including to my emotions, and we need to talk about it...”
Frontiers | Frequency of Neurological Diseases After COVID-19, Influenza A/B and Bacterial Pneumonia
A study of electronic medical records of 35,362 COVID-19 outpatients in Denmark showed an increased relative risk (RR) of 3.5 for Alzheimer's disease and 2.6 for Parkinson's disease compared to outpatients who did not have COVID-19.
Cross-Section of Neurological Manifestations Among SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Subvariants—Single-Center Study
“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."
Part 2 of 2
Part 1 of 2
Why people can no longer drive.
Brain-wide alterations revealed by spatial transcriptomics and proteomics in COVID-19 infection
“We identified dysregulation of mitochondrial and synaptic pathways in deep-layer excitatory neurons and upregulation of neuroinflammation in glia, consistent across both mRNA and protein. Remarkably, these alterations overlapped substantially with changes in age-related neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease”
We identified dysregulation of mitochondrial and synaptic pathways in deep-layer excitatory neurons and upregulation of neuroinflammation in glia, consistent across both mRNA and protein. Remarkably, these alterations overlapped substantially with changes in age-related neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease
Cognition and Memory after Covid-19 in a Large Community Sample | NEJM
Cognition and Memory after Covid-19 in a Large Community Sample
Cognition and Memory after Covid-19 in a Large Community Sample
Posthospitalization COVID-19 cognitive deficits at 1 year are global and associated with elevated brain injury markers and gray matter volume reduction - PubMed
“Posthospitalization COVID-19 cognitive deficits at 1 year are global and associated with elevated brain injury markers and gray matter volume reduction”
Posthospitalization
If you’re not noticing the (obvious) cognitive impairment in practically everyone around you, it may be due to your own cognitive decline.
“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.”
Mounting research shows that COVID-19 leaves its mark on the brain, including significant drops in IQ scores : r/news
“Mounting research shows that COVID-19 leaves its mark on the brain, including significant drops in IQ scores"
Frontiers | SARS-CoV-2 infection increases risk of intracranial hemorrhage
“SARS-CoV-2 infection increases risk of intracranial hemorrhage”
SARS-CoV-2 infection increases risk of intracranial hemorrhage
A case-control study of reaction time deficits in a 3D virtual reality in patients with Post-COVID syndrome
“A case-control study of reaction time deficits in a 3D virtual reality in patients with Post-COVID syndrome”
A case-control study of reaction time deficits in a 3D virtual reality in patients with Post-COVID syndrome
Studies re Long Covid insist on stating the % of people who succumb to this sequelae. I’ve seen incident rates from 3.5% up to 38% (after 3rd infection).
“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:
Covid damages the frontal lobe of the brain.
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 following SARS-CoV2 infection | Brain Communications | Oxford Academic
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.
SARS-CoV-2 Invasion and Pathological Links to Prion Disease
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.
“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.”
Cognitive profile following COVID-19 infection: Clinical predictors leading to neuropsychological impairment
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 survivors may develop dementia
“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.."
COVID-19 survivors show signs of significant cognitive deficits which could become dementia even a year after having the virus1. They also have an increased risk of depression, anxiety and disrupted sleep.
Recorded this video on the microscope yesterday. A single infected cell arrives on the brain inside a blood vessel. Don't underestimate how much neuroinflammation one infected cell can cause.
“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”
How long COVID could lift the fog on neurocognitive disorders
‘I’m a shell of myself. My physical issues aren’t half as bad as my brain problems. You can say brain fog, but that doesn’t come close to doing it justice.’”
Quantitative susceptibility mapping at 7 T in COVID-19: brainstem effects and outcome associations | Brain | Oxford Academic
“In COVID-19 survivors, the MR susceptibility increased in the medulla, pons and midbrain regions of the brainstem. Specifically, there was increased susceptibility in the inferior medullary reticular formation and the raphe pallidus and obscurus. In these regions, patients with higher tissue susceptibility had worse acute disease severity, higher acute inflammatory markers, and significantly worse functional recovery.”
In COVID-19 survivors, the MR susceptibility increased in the medulla, pons and midbrain regions of the brainstem. Specifically, there was increased susceptibility in the inferior medullary reticular formation and the raphe pallidus and obscurus. In these regions, patients with higher tissue susceptibility had worse acute disease severity, higher acute inflammatory markers, and significantly worse functional recovery.
Driving Under the Cognitive Influence of COVID-19: Exploring the Impact of Acute SARS-CoV-2 Infection on Road Safety | Neurology
"The study suggests that acute COVID-19, regardless of Long COVID status, is linked to an increased risk of car crashes presumably due to neurologic changes caused by SARS-CoV-2."