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.
UPDATE 1
I hate to give personal info online, but this may help others. Remember that I told you that my ex died recently? Well I did not tell you how he died. After years of being in and out of the hospital during COVID, but not because of COVID... maybe..., he was finally diagnosed with ALS [amyotrophic lateral sclerosis] and died soon after. He did contract what may have been a second bout of COVID while he was hospitalized. Before this, it was not known to the family that they may have familial ALS and all are being tested. It is a heart breaking thing to have to do, and all of the family has already had kids and some have grandkids. Sigh.
Can COVID induce ALS? Parkinsons? Creutzfeldt-Jakob? Other Neurodegenerative diseases? Maybe… Is it a trigger for previously unknown pre-existing/familial conditions? Or the root source? No one is certain as of yet.
Although much of this is still hypothetical, follow up studies are finding that proteins and the virus may remain in the brain long after it was tested to have cleared the body. Some autopsies and individual cases (rare) have shown virus active in the brain, but thus far, the virus has not been actively found in a living human. It seems that for some, the virus may have been cleared from the brain, but the spike proteins remain to cause havoc.
The Spike Protein & Neurodegenerative Disease
Compared with other viruses, a striking difference was observed in the distribution of prion-like domains in the spike protein since SARS-CoV-2 is the only coronavirus with a prion-like domain found in the receptor-binding domain of the S1 region of the spike protein https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35208734/
In 2 people who had been previously diagnosed with ALS, their progression was greatly accelerated after contracting COVID. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8441768/
A Potential Role of the Spike Protein in Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Narrative Review. Based on in vitro and in vivo experimental evidence relating to prion and prion-like disease, we extrapolate from the compelling evidence that the spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 contains extended amino acid sequences characteristic of a prion-like protein to infer its potential to cause neurodegenerative disease. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9922164/
Prion Disease After COVID-19: A Case Report Our literature search found a few cases of PrD [Parkinson related] after COVID-19 [4–7]. Remarkably, various neurological complications have been recognized in people after contracting COVID-19. While anosmia is considered a regular consequence of COVID, it is typically underrecognized as cranial nerve I dysfunction, a common neurological complication. Other serious post-COVID-19 complications include encephalopathy, meningitis, encephalitis, peripheral neuropathies, and increased risk of cerebrovascular insults and cranial neuropathies, which suggest a neuroinflammatory component of the viral illness [8]. Our case report is unique by highlighting the potential contribution of COVID-19 to PrD. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10519638/
Here, the reported case demonstrates the clinical, radiological and laboratory features of sCJD [Creutzfeldt-Jakob] in a post COVID-19 patient, with very rapid deterioration. This draws attention to some of the challenges faced during diagnosing patients with such rare neurodegenerative disease, and how these have been exaggerated by COVID-19. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10201512/
Researchers in Germany found that part of the virus, the spike protein, remains in the brain long after the virus clears out. These investigators discovered the spike protein from the virus in brain tissue of animals and people after death. The finding suggests these virus fragments build up, stick around, and trigger inflammation that causes long COVID symptoms. https://www.webmd.com/covid/news/20230413/part-of-coronavirus-may-stick-around-the-brain
Our results revealed the accumulation of the spike protein in the skull marrow, brain meninges, and brain parenchyma. The injection of the spike protein alone caused cell death in the brain, highlighting a direct effect on brain tissue. Furthermore, we observed the presence of spike protein in the skull of deceased long after their COVID-19 infection, suggesting that the spike’s persistence may contribute to long-term neurological symptoms. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.04.04.535604v1
Neuropsychological deficits in patients with persistent COVID symptoms:systematic review and meta-analysis
June 2023: 'Long-term persistent symptoms of COVID-19 affect 30–80% of patients who have recovered from the disease and may continue for a long time after the disease has been overcome. The duration of these symptoms over time might have consequences that affect different aspects of health, such as cognitive abilities. The main objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to objectify the persistent COVID-19 cognitive deficits after acute phase of infection and to summarize the existing evidence. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-37420-6
Neuro: brain cells fusion
June 8, 2023: 'Researchers discovered viruses, including COVID-19, can induce the fusion of brain cells, resulting in malfunctions that contribute to chronic neurological symptoms. The study sheds light on how viruses alter the function of the nervous system. The findings provide a potential explanation for persistent neurological effects experienced by individuals after a viral infection, such as those seen in “long COVID” cases.' https://neurosciencenews.com/covid-neuron-fusion-23421/
Brain bleed & Stroke & Brain Fog/cellular aging /cellular death
August 5, 2022: ‘Major findings include that COVID-19 infections may predispose individuals to developing irreversible neurological conditions, may increase the likelihood of strokes and may increase the chance of developing persistent brain lesions that can lead to brain bleeding.’ ‘20-30% of COVID-19 patients report a lingering psychological condition known as “brain fog” where individuals suffer from symptoms such as memory loss, difficulty in concentrating, forgetting daily activities, difficulty in selecting the right words, taking longer than usual time to complete a regular task, disoriented thought processes and emotional numbness.’ COVID-19 Infection in Crucial Brain Regions May Lead To Accelerated Brain Aging. https://neurosciencenews.com/covid-19-brain-aging-21190/
Neurological
Nov 2021: 'Analysis of long COVID neurological damage : detailed the occurrence of syndromic expression of neurological involvement in COVID-19 and probed the association of neurological indices with disease severity and mortality in patients with COVID-19. By analysing data from 55 countries, they identified 41 neurological manifestations that can occur in conjunction with COVID-19. Up to one-third of individuals with COVID-19 were estimated to exhibit at least one of these manifestations.' https://www.nature.com/articles/s41582-021-00593-7