New Study Suggests COVID-19 May Increase Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease
A recent review in the Journal of Neurochemistry has discovered a potential link between COVID-19 and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. The study highlights the role of inflammation and aging in connecting viral infections, like COVID-19, with neurodegeneration.
Research has shown that age is a known factor in Alzheimer’s disease, and the study suggests that COVID-19 and Alzheimer’s may interact when they co-occur. Dr. Thomas E. Lane, a researcher at the University of California, Irvine, and the corresponding author of the study, expressed optimism for more data supporting the association between microbial infections and neurodegenerative illnesses.
To further investigate the potential link, researchers are conducting studies with transgenic AD mice infected with murine coronaviruses and murine-adapted SARS-CoV-2. They are eager to see how coronavirus infection affects the severity of Alzheimer’s neuropathology.
Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s, are believed to be caused by aberrant protein folding and aggregation in the brain. However, the exact root of the condition is still unknown.
Experts suggest that COVID-19 may worsen Alzheimer’s disease or increase the risk of developing it due to their shared inflammatory traits and risk factors. This association could have significant implications for public health worldwide.
Studies conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic have consistently shown a link between the virus and an increased risk of cognitive problems. Older individuals who contracted COVID-19 had a higher chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease one year later. Additionally, COVID-19 infections in elderly people with Alzheimer’s were more severe, with higher fatality rates.
A retrospective investigation of over 6.2 million people aged 65 and older revealed a 69% increased probability of Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis within a year after COVID-19 infection. Women and those over 85 were particularly at higher risk.
Dr. Pamela Davis, a co-author of the study and a professor at Case Western Reserve University, emphasizes the need for more research on the factors impacting Alzheimer’s disease. She believes that long-term care resources may be strained if there is a persistent rise in Alzheimer’s diagnoses after COVID-19.
Improving public health, especially for the elderly, requires further studies on the complex relationship between COVID-19 and Alzheimer’s disease. Previous studies have linked brain problems to flu viruses that lead to pneumonia, and there is evidence that viral encephalitis could increase the risk of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, dementia, and ALS.
Dr. Nikhil Palekar, the director of Stony Brook Alzheimer’s Center, recommends more investigation to better understand the complex relationship between viral infections and mental conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. He believes that further studies can contribute to the development of targeted therapeutics to reduce or prevent virus-mediated neurodegeneration.
In conclusion, the recent review suggests a potential link between COVID-19 and Alzheimer’s disease. The study highlights the importance of inflammation and aging in connecting viral infections, such as COVID-19, with neurodegeneration. Further research is needed to fully understand the complex relationship and develop potential treatments to reduce the impact of these diseases.
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