Johns Hopkins scientists found that female mice recovering from COVID showed lasting memory loss and brain inflammation.
The effect was driven by having two X chromosomes, revealing a genetic cause for why long COVID hits women harder.
"Patients suffering from COVID-19 have been found to exhibit dementia-related biomarkers.. The findings of this study suggest a potential link between mild-to-moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection and the initiation or acceleration of brain β-amyloid pathology, and hint at the possibility of an increased future incidence of Alzheimer’s disease subsequent to the COVID-19 pandemic."
Exploring the Persistence of the Spike Protein along the Skull-Meninges-Brain Axis and the Neurological Effects of COVID-19
This analysis is supported by numerous videos and illustrations.
Researchers used mouse model to study how SARS-CoV-2 infects the brain.
The virus targets neurons but spares blood vessels, triggering neuroinflammation and blood-brain barrier dysfunction.
“SARS-CoV-2 may infect CNS, affecting microglia and brain cells. • Neuroinflammation from SARS-CoV-2 could lead to long COVID memory issues.”
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.
SARS-CoV-2 can enter human motor neurons primarily through the receptors CD147 and NRP1.
The infection alters the expression of several genes involved in cell survival, metabolism, inflammatory response, and antiviral pathways.
“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."