New Research Studies of the Impacts COVID Poses on the Brain
There have been multiple research studies that reveal how COVID is negatively impacting the brain in individuals. According to clinical epidemiologist Ziyad Al-Aly, “COVID-19 poses a serious risk to brain health, even in mild cases, and the effects are now being revealed at the population level.” This demonstrate how individuals who have contracted the virus have shown to have impacts in their brain despite the severity of the cases.
Furthermore, these studies shows how people who have had the virus are more susceptible to experiencing neurological effects, and with this the virus leaves it’s mark. Unfortunately, these effects can be presented in many different ways, like:
- Brain fog.
- IQ scores decreasing.
- Disrupt of the blood-brain barrier.
- Brain inflammation.
- Dementia in older people.
- Shrinkage of brain volume.
- Altered brain structure.
- Memory loss.
- Difficulty learning and more.
IQ Scores Declining
Now, in terms of studies, there was a study conducted in England that demonstrates that COVID-19 has been associated with various neurological complications. Meaning that after people have or contract this virus it can definitely jeopardize individuals brain’s health and functionality. In fact, according to their research data, there was about 113,000 participants in England, and the data showed that there is a decrease in IQ score levels.
Subsequently, researchers reported that there was a three point loss on an IQ scale. This particular cognitive decline was for those individuals who recovered within one month. Additionally, this point decline was similar to the other group who recovered and had no more symptoms after at least three months. On the other hand there was the group of people who had long-lasting symptoms. This group was the one who still haven’t recovered by the moment they were in the research study. Overall, in their particular assessment they showed a six point loss. Ultimately, the group of people who got to the point of being hospitalized had a loss of nine points in their IQ scores.
Blood-Brain Barrier Impacts Can Cause Neurological Problems
Moreover, COVID is definitely having negative implications in the brain’s health because there was another research study done at the University of Illinois Chicago. Which in fact also showed how these effects are making their presence outstand. In this specific study, researchers emphasize that symptoms in patients recovering from the virus are memory loss and difficulty learning. On the other hand, they say that little is known about the mechanisms of cognitive impairments like, brain fog. However, brain fog can also be associated with brain problems post the virus.
Now, in this particular study, researchers conducted the study on mice and they identified a mechanism that causes neurological problems in those mice that were infected with the virus. They focused on the blood-brain barrier, which this specific barrier play a role in other neurological diseases. According to the researchers, “normally, this barrier protects the brain from potentially harmful cells or molecules circulating in the bloodstream. But the infected mice, researchers found, had leaky blood-brain vessels and impaired memory or learning.”
After this study was conducted, they found that there was a decrease in a signaling pathway called Wnt/beta-catenin. In fact, this particular pathway helps maintain the health of the blood-brain barrier and it provides protection to the brain.
Fewer Neurological Consequences on Vaccinated Individuals
Nonetheless, it is proven in several studies that there can definitely be damage in the brain after COVID. Also, Al-Aly, the clinical epidemiologist, cites, “imaging studies done on people both before and after their COVID infections, which showed ‘shrinkage of brain volume’ and ‘altered brain structure’ after infection.” Also another insightful statement that he made about after death is the following, “autopsies performed on people who died with COVID revealed ‘devastating damage’ in their brains.”
However, it’s important to emphasize that according to the New England Journal of Medicine researchers, they found that there was a smaller cognitive effects in those groups who were infected with variants of the virus. They mentioned that the reasoning as to why this was, was because a higher amount of people were vaccinated against the virus as the pandemic progressed.
Essentially, this ensured that they were better protected against these brain’ health consequences or deteriorating. This is why it is very import why medical experts express and advocate that everybody needs to be vaccinated with the COVID vaccine. This is extremely important not just for their own wellbeing but also everyone else’s wellbeing. Overall, to avoid and prevent the COVID imposing negative implications in the brain’s health.
Written by Jeanette Sanchez
Sources:
People: COVID Linked to Lower IQ, Poor Memory and Other Negative Impacts on Brain Health
Technology Networks: Research Target Brain Blood Vessels in Mice With COVID “Brain Fog”
JAMA Network: COVID-19 Infection Tied to Slight Cognitive Deficits
The New England Journal of Medicine: Cognition and Memory after Covid-19 in a Large Community Sample
CBS News: Research suggest COVID-19 affect brain age and IQ score
Featured Image Courtesy of Giorgio Montersino Flickr Page-Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Eelke Flickr Page-Creative Commons License
