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COVID-19 triggers the same inflammatory response in the brain as Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions, claimed a new study.
Those affected with COVID-19 may be at an increased risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases in future, revealed the findings of the research published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry November 1, 2022.
The study, led by researchers from The University of Queensland, also discovered a potential treatment for the same.
Researchers studied the effect of the virus on microglia — the brain’s immune cells. They are the key cells involved in the progression of neurodegenerative conditions.
“We found the cells effectively became ‘angry’, activating the same pathway that Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s proteins can activate,” said Albornoz Balmaceda, an author of the study, in a press release.
The researchers triggered this pathway and it sparked a ‘fire’ in the brain or a chronic and sustained process of killing off neurons
“It’s kind of a silent killer, because you don’t see any outward symptoms for many years,” Balmaceda said.
The spike protein of the virus is enough to start the process. It is exacerbated by exposure to proteins linked to Parkinson’s.
“So if someone is already pre-disposed to Parkinson’s, having COVID-19 could be like pouring more fuel on that ‘fire’ in the brain,” said Trent Woodruff, another author of the study.
The same would apply to Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
The researchers also found a possible treatment for such inflammations. They tested a class of inhibitory medicines for Parkinson’s and found it successfully blocked the inflammatory pathway activated by COVID-19.
“The drug reduced inflammation in both COVID-19-infected mice and the microglia cells from humans — suggesting a possible treatment approach to prevent neurodegeneration in the future,” said Balmaceda.
The similarity between how COVID-19 and dementia diseases affect the brain was concerning, but it also meant a possible treatment, said Woodruff.
“Further research is needed, but this is potentially a new approach to treating a virus that could otherwise have untold long-term health ramifications,” he added.
Researchers worldwide are trying to identify how long covid, or the long-term impacts of COVID-19, affects the human brain.
Many patients with long covid complain of “brain fog”. Cognitive symptoms affecting memory, concentration, sleep and speech are collectively called brain fog. Recent studies revealed that those who have experienced COVID-19 are more likely to experience brain disorders like dementia.