Can COVID-19 cause risk of brain damage? Here's what study claims
Can COVID-19 cause risk of brain damage?
Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in and around the world, people have entered a state of panic and chaos. Not only has it impacted the physical health of everyone around the globe, but it has also taken a toll on people's mental health. Besides the many symptoms experienced by the infected individuals, lingering effects of the infection have begun to torment people in its own way.
While investigating and establishing the long-term effects of COVID-19, besides inflicting great dangers to the respiratory system, a recent study has suggested that COVID-19 can cause severe neurological damage to the human brain.
How SARS-COV-2 impacts the brain?
Reportedly, COVID-19 is said to cause mild to severe inflammations, strokes and seizures in the brains of the infected patients. Individuals who have recovered from the infection have also complained of experiencing mental confusion, headaches, dizziness and blurred vision during and after the course of their recovery. Studies have also claimed that the prevalence of neurological symptoms such as headache and mental confusion in COVID-19 patients can suggest a link between the SARS-COV-2 and diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Study: Signs of brain damage in COVID-infected patients
According to a recent study conducted by the researchers from Uppsala University in Sweden, SARS-CoV-2 may infect the nervous system and can trigger various neurological symptoms, including dizziness, confusion, stroke, and coma.
The study kept 19 COVID-infected individuals under observation and had followed up with their progress report. The participants had contracted the virus last year and had developed neurological symptoms, ranging from delirium to coma.
Eight individuals, who volunteered in the study experienced an 'altered mental status' and eight also had headaches as a result of the infection.
The researchers collected samples of their cerebrospinal fluid, which is known to protect the brain and the spine. It was later found that the samples contained excessive amounts of proteins which are linked to impaired brain functions.
Additionally, according to the research, higher-than-normal levels of neurofilament light (NfL) - a key biomarker for disease - were seen in two-thirds of patients (63 per cent).
According to the lead author of the study, Dr Johan Virhammar, 'We are now investigating the long-term effects in these patients, primarily through samples of blood and cerebrospinal fluid stored in Uppsala Biobank". "This unique sample collection is the basis for several ongoing and planned studies that can help us understand the mechanisms behind the neurological complications of Covid-19," he added.
Long term neurological effects of COVID-19 on brain
While COVID-19 may cause serious damage to the brain, it may also result in long term prolonged effects on a person who has already recovered from the same.
Besides the various other effects of the novel coronavirus on different parts of the body, studies have claimed that Alzheimer's and Parkinson’s disease may be some of the long term effects of COVID-19. A review published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: the Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association has tried establishing the possible link between COVID-19 and Alzheimer's. According to the researchers, the onset of the symptoms in people with the disease appears at or around the age of 60.