UPDATE 1* Links to some studies of the impact of COVID on the brain
I have been taking notes and URLs about the effect COVID has on the brain and it is a huge list... but coming from me, that has little impact. So instead, I will give you Ziyad Al-Aly:
I am a physician scientist, and I have been devoted to studying long COVID since early patient reports about this condition – even before the term “long COVID” was coined. I have testified before the U.S. Senate as an expert witness on long COVID and have published extensively on this topic.
He begins by pointing out the many brain studies that have been written and their findings, including:
Autopsy studies of people who had severe COVID-19 but died months later from other causes showed that the virus was still present in brain tissue. This provides evidence that contrary to its name, SARS-CoV-2 is not only a respiratory virus, but it can also enter the brain in some individuals. But whether the persistence of the virus in brain tissue is driving some of the brain problems seen in people who have had COVID-19 is not yet clear.
Studies show that even when the virus is mild and exclusively confined to the lungs, it can still provoke inflammation in the brain and impair brain cells’ ability to regenerate.
COVID-19 can also disrupt the blood brain barrier, the shield that protects the nervous system – which is the control and command center of our bodies – making it “leaky.” Studies using imaging to assess the brains of people hospitalized with COVID-19 showed disrupted or leaky blood brain barriers in those who experienced brain fog
There is next a focus in Drops in IQ, cognitive impairment and the significant deficits in memory and executive task performance... which is still to me the most significant lingering effect...
This decline was evident among those infected in the early phase of the pandemic and those infected when the delta and omicron variants were dominant. These findings show that the risk of cognitive decline did not abate as the pandemic virus evolved from the ancestral strain to omicron.
In the same study, those who had mild and resolved COVID-19 showed cognitive decline equivalent to a three-point loss of IQ. In comparison, those with unresolved persistent symptoms, such as people with persistent shortness of breath or fatigue, had a six-point loss in IQ. Those who had been admitted to the intensive care unit for COVID-19 had a nine-point loss in IQ. Reinfection with the virus contributed an additional two-point loss in IQ, as compared with no reinfection.
Next, there is a discussion on the implications, reminding that COVID is not just a respiratory disease and inflammatory disease affecting all organs, but so much more in respect to the brain.
COVID-19 should be considered a virus with a significant impact on the brain.
There are many more points in the story, so please check it out: https://www.psypost.org/covid-19-leaves-its-mark-on-the-brain-including-with-significant-drops-in-iq-scores/
People who have severe COVID that requires hospitalization 'may have lung, kidney, or other organ damage that can also affect the brain (known as metabolic encephalopathy). This happens when the brain does not get enough oxygen, or problems in other organs change the balance of chemicals in the brain'. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/current-research/coronavirus-and-ninds/covid-19-and-nervous-system
There is also story of help for Long-COVID recovery: The promising combo of *breathing exercises and creatine supplementation. I was surprised because I don't remember reading anything about that, nor do I have anything in my notes even though a search shows this has been discussed as early as 2020 ... but then again, I have long COVID... sigh...
“Our data suggest that a three-month regimen of dietary creatine, when combined with breathing exercises, may be beneficial in alleviating fatigue associated with long COVID, as well as in ameliorating metabolic imbalances in the brain and skeletal muscles,” Ostojic told PsyPost. “Patients undergoing this intervention also showed modest improvements in exercise capacity, with no significant side effects observed.”
*NOTE that this particular study had a tiny cohort... and none were elderly... https://www.psypost.org/long-covid-recovery-the-promising-combo-of-breath-exercises-and-creatine-supplementation/
This is a little hairy, so continue at your own risk if you have a queasy stomach:
This is NOT NEW... It is from 2021 and I have been reluctant to post it because... it is pretty scary and I preferred not to add it for that reason alone. Dr. Ding was using scare tactics to get people to live in fear of the virus and it was getting disturbing to read his hair on fire threads... and many of us stopped entirely. So, why am I adding it now? People have stopped worrying or even caring about the virus entirely in spite of knowing what we know about its effect on brains and other long COVID symptoms. Some of the long term effects are WORSE than lead poisoning pr stroke ... and yet, very few people are bothering to get their booster shots, even though the older ones were not designed to be as effective for newer variants. (erm, how could they be?) https://twitter.com/DrEricDing/status/1429640312004268032
The video below is the brain of a bat being infiltrated by COVID. It shows the spikes keying into the ACE receptors.... triggering cell fusion and cell death (red) brain cells and the damage left behind. PS: As happens with cells in the body, especially the lungs, the macrophages that normally mop up the mess left behind in "battle" are unable to quickly clean up the billions of cell virus particles and possibly, are piggybacking the virus as they move through the cells. That mess alone could have implications for the brain slow down.
Get your boosters! Some people note that Long COVID symptoms are relieved soon after getting the booster, perhaps because it helps the body rid of any lingering virus. https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/vaccines-long-covid and more recent studies and a meta-analysis confirms the results but not the hypothesis... as there may be other factors. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/more-evidence-vaccination-reduces-risk-long-covid
tRUMPspeak: "When a virus loves a cell very much but the cell isn’t interested, the virus grabs the cell by her ACE2 receptor and.... they let you do that if you’re novel."
Chart showing Ace2 receptors in the body
I have three siblings. Two of them did not get any vaccines except the first ones, and both attended church regularly. This week, both of them died, which is very wierd.
My 68 year old brother's wife had Covid really bad, she was in hospital twice in 2021 and now uses a cane. He supposedly never got it, but who knows. He had Type 2 diabetes, refused medical advice, and stopped taking his metformin because he believed faith healing, etc. and listened to Kenneth Copeland on the radio. A month ago he was admitted to hospital after falling a 3rd time in 2 months, his T2 diabetes had caused his toe to become necrotic. He refused surgery, then ended up readmitted with worse symptoms, his foot turning black and he had a below knee amputation 8 days ago. He had a stroke while in surgery, and this morning he died. Clearly, if he stroked out post-Covid, it could well have been a factor.
My 60 year old sister had no major medical issues. However, she had a serious bout of Covid in fall, 2021 as well, and was admitted to hospital, then finally discharged with a walker which she has used ever since. She was found dead three days ago, sitting in a chair with the TV on. Again, I have to wonder if a Covid related blood clot was involved.
My other brother and I have been fully vaccinated. We are now busy planning 2 cremations and a combined memorial service.