Hospitalized COVID-19 Brain Damage greater than in Alzheimers....

[Tom.G]

...And even higher in deceased patients.

Neurodegenerative biomarkers were elevated to levels observed in AD dementia and associated with encephalopathy and worse outcomes among hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Popular version:
https://www.news10.com/news/covid-1...n-damage-than-people-with-alzheimers-disease/

Research article:
https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.12556

 

[sysprog]

...And even higher in deceased patients.Popular version:
https://www.news10.com/news/covid-1...n-damage-than-people-with-alzheimers-disease/

Research article:
https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.12556

The study said that some of the markers were higher; not that the observable actual damage, e.g. lesions, plaques, tangles, was higher.

 

[Tom.G]

Hmm... true. What other things could cause the markers to rise?

 

[sysprog]

Maybe it reflects a beginning or incipiency of a similar kind of damage, which is arrested when the infected person recovers from the virus.

 

[Tom.G]

That would seem the best-case scenario, here's hoping!

 

[sysprog]

Yes. A less bright-side possibility is that the elevated markers may be found to be associated with 'post-COVID brain fog', and that may be indicative of damage to the hippocampus and other neural structures. While most patients appear to fully recover from the 'brain fog' in about 3 months or sooner, for a comparative few, it apparently can last much longer. There are some infected in 2020 who still report lingering symptoms of it.

 

[kyphysics]

Yes. A less bright-side possibility is that the elevated markers may be found to be associated with 'post-COVID brain fog', and that may be indicative of damage to the hippocampus and other neural structures. While most patients appear to fully recover from the 'brain fog' in about 3 months or sooner, for a comparative few, it apparently can last much longer. There are some infected in 2020 who still report lingering symptoms of it.

Any difference between vaxed and unvaxed on brain fog recovery rates?

 

[sysprog]

As far as I know, the generality that symptoms encountered by vaccinated persons are very likely to be fewer and less severe would apply regarding 'brain fog', too.

 

[jim mcnamara]

as of 1/17/2022:
I am unaware of any reasonable studies on how long Covid (PASC) rates associate with vaccination status. So I think it is fair to say 'we do not know'. There does appear to be a correlation between PASC onset and severe symptoms. Overview:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8525917/

Autopsies do show the presence of the SARS virus in many different organ tissues, including brain tissue. Obviously, death interferes with PASC determinations made in the morgue. A study on living people shows brain damage:
Thanks to @Tom.G
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.06.11.21258690v1
-- Pre and post Covid brain imaging data.

 

[sysprog]

Wow $-$ that study says that about 1/3 of patients get some observable permanent cortical damage $-$ makes me wonder whether SARS-CoV-2 could shave a little off of worldwide IQ normings.

 

[jim mcnamara]

@Tom.G - markers are usually molecules: polypeptides/proteins

One example:

C reactive protein (CRP) is a marker for current , usually ongoing inflammation. And is usually a harbinger for impending new problems. So patients may be monitored periodically for it. Usually along with other biomarkers.

So we can say:
Patients with a high risk profile for Cardiovascular disease usually have elevated CRP. Any increase may signal impending new problems. Cardiovascular diseases are usually an inflammation mediated disease process. So it is a heredity/environment interaction.

See this patient guide:
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/hea...g-cardiovascular-risk-with-c-reactive-protein