Long Covid may trigger changes in the brain which are commonly seen in Alzheimer’s patients, according to a new study. Research carried out at the New York University (NYU) Langone Hospital looked at the choroid plexus (CP), a network of blood vessels lined by cells that primarily produces cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). It acts as the blood-CSF barrier, filtering blood plasma to create fluid that cushions the brain, removes metabolic waste, and regulates immune cells. Past studies have showed that the Covid virus can damage the cells that line CP blood vessel – but the latest research went a step further, noting that patients reporting Long Covid symptoms had a 10 per cent larger CP than those who had fully recovered from an initial infection without long-term symptoms. Researchers noted that patients with larger CPs performed an average of two per cent worse on a standard 30-point screening test, the mini–mental state examination (MMSE), which measures changes in memory and attention. Moreover, scientists said increases in CP size were associated with higher blood levels of proteins that rise as Alzheimer’s disease progresses, such as pTau217, as well as proteins that respond to brain injury, like glial fibrillary acidic protein. The study , published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia on February 10, included 86 patients with Long Covid, 67 people who recovered from the infection and 26 healthy controls. In a press release published after the study came out, Yulin Ge, a professor in the Department of Radiology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, said: “Our work suggests that long-term immune reactions caused in some cases after an initial Covid infection may come with swelling that damages a critical brain barrier in the choroid plexus. Physical, molecular, and clinical evidence suggests that a larger CP may be an early warning sign of future Alzheimer’s-like cognitive decline.” Dr Ge said it’s currently unknown whether these changes are reversible, as he told the New York Post that the tea, will analyse the patients’ follow-up data to have more information. As explained by the NHS , Long Covid, which happens when the symptoms of Covid-19 last longer than 12 weeks, is still being studied. The most common symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, joint pain and aching muscles, and brain fog. Some people may also experience other symptoms such as insomnia, anxiety and depression, headaches or heart palpitations. The study authors said impaired blood perfusion in the CP may hinder production of cerebrospinal fluid, lead to waste build-up, and compromise the integrity of the blood–fluid barrier. Senior study author Thomas M. Wisniewski, the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman Professor of the New York University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, which is part of the Department of Neurology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, said: “Our next step is to follow these patients over time to see if the brain changes we identified can predict who will develop long-term cognitive issues. A larger, long-term study will be needed to clarify whether these CP alterations are a cause or a consequence of the neurological symptoms, which promises to better focus treatment design efforts.” According to the World Health Organization ( WHO ), about six in 100 people who have Covid-19 go on to develop Long Covid. There is no specific treatment for Long Covid, but patients may be offered medications for symptomatic relief as needed.

Original source: gb