Covid infection can cause months-lasting brain injury: A Study report

 

Markers indicative of brain injury persist in the bloodstream for an extended duration following a Covid-19 infection, even when conventional inflammation blood tests show normal results, according to a study published in the journal Nature Communications. The research focused on individuals who experienced neurological complications during their bout with Covid-19.

Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, it became evident that a notable percentage of hospitalized patients, including those with mild infections, were grappling with neurological complications. While certain neurological symptoms were typically mild, such as headaches and muscle aches, the study underscored the occurrence of more substantial and potentially life-altering neurological complications like encephalitis, seizures, and strokes, particularly among patients analyzed by researchers at the University of Liverpool in the UK.

The team conducted an extensive examination of samples from over 800 Covid-19 hospitalized patients in England and Wales, half of whom exhibited new neurological conditions. The assessment involved the measurement of brain injury markers, serum inflammatory proteins (cytokines), antibodies, and brain (neuroglial) injury proteins.

The findings indicated that during the acute phase of the illness, characterized by rapidly developing symptoms, key inflammatory proteins and brain injury markers were produced. Notably, robust biomarker evidence of ongoing brain (neuroglial) injury persisted in the blood even months after patients were discharged from the hospital. This trend was more pronounced in patients who experienced neurological dysfunction during the acute phase, and it continued into the recovery phase for those with acute neurological complications.

The inflammatory markers identified during the acute phase were associated with abnormal immune responses, leading researchers to propose them as potential targets for therapy not only for Covid-19 but also for other infections that induce acute brain dysfunction.

Professor Benedict Michael, the principal investigator and director of the University of Liverpool, emphasized the significance of the study, stating that it reveals the persistence of brain injury markers in the blood months after a Covid-19 infection, particularly in individuals with Covid-19-induced brain complications like inflammation or stroke. Despite the resolution of the inflammatory response in the blood, the study suggests the possibility of ongoing inflammation and injury within the brain that may go undetected by standard blood tests for inflammation. Professor Leonie Taams from King's College London highlighted the interdisciplinary nature of the research, bringing together immunology, neurology, and infection research to identify biomarkers associated with the neurological complications of Covid-19, paving the way for understanding the underlying mechanisms of these complications.