Disturbing long-term complications of Covid-19-Neurological Symptoms!
Anika H. Ahmed, MD
As we complete 19 months of Covid-19 restricted life, one cannot help wondering what the long-term effects of the Coronavirus may be and how we shall continue to pay our dues to it. Research continues on patients who did get positive with the Coronavirus, and they are being closely studied after they were marked as fully recovered on paper, meaning that they longer tested positive.
A lot of people still continue to suffer even after their so-called recovery and observational studies of them show many people struggling with memory problems, mental fog, and mood changes. Scientists agree that one reason for these symptoms are long-term damage to the brain.
Currently studies are being carried out in various medical universities with a team of scientists taking a lead at the University of Virginia, California National Primate Research Center at UC Davis, and the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. A study led on hospitalized patients found that more than 13% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients have developed a new neurological disorder usually seen soon after being infected with the Coronavirus. When these patients were followed up six months later, it was observed that the group who survived were still showing cognitive problems.
The main health risks to the brain are internal bleeding, blood clots, inflammation, oxygen deprivation and disruption of the blood-brain barrier. The changes seen in the brain are subtle but even minor affects on the brain could be a significant change in cognition. SARS-CoV-2 virus when observed in animals clearly shows it infecting not just the animal’s lungs and body tissues but also the brain, an organ that has yet not received much attention. The monkeys studied showed that neurons, the brain cells that make thinking possible, are infected. For human beings under observation in ongoing studies, many researchers have found evidence that the virus can infect human brain cells.
As seen in monkeys, it is believed that the virus appears to enter the brain through the nose. A potential route for the Coronavirus to makes its way to the brain is through a nerve located on top of the nose called the Olfactory bulb. The Olfactory Bulb provides a possible route for the Coronavirus to travel from the respiratory system to the brain. The Coronavirus appears to infect and destroy nerve cells in the Olfactory Bulb, which surely explains why many COVID-19 patients complain of loss of sense of smell!
In addition to this, the Coronavirus has also been observed to infect cells that line blood vessels, including those that go through the brain and hence lead to damage that can trigger blood clots or bleeding that can lead to life threatening strokes. It can also damage cells that protect the blood-brain barrier leading to disruption and allowing harmful substances including the Coronavirus to enter the brain.
Furthermore, the Coronavirus can also damage a person’s lungs to the extent that their brain is no longer able to get sufficient oxygen. Sone scientists also believe COVID-19 may be causing brain injuries that may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s later in life.
This impact of the Coronavirus on the brain certainly makes its extremely important to treat every COVID-19 patient in the initial stages with the newly approved Pfizer anti-Covid-19, PAXLOVID and stop the disease evolving towards more advanced stages, that can cause irreversible neuronal damage.
The bottom line of all ongoing and past research is that the best way to prevent COVID-related brain damage is to get promptly vaccinated!
What if already suffering can tonics help?
Certainly tonics will help boost the immune system and tone down the neurological symptoms too.
I’ve experienced some of these symptoms ever since I had covid last year! It’s interesting to learn that the newfound symptoms are likely a result of my covid infection.
Post Covid, a balanced diet rich in fresh fruits & vegetables can greatly support the neurological and immune system and eventually get rid of the symptoms.
Thank you for this information. This is certainly concerning. In addition to memory issues, I’ve heard some complaining of sleep issues (insomnia and disrupted sleep). Is there any noted difference being seen in lingering effects from the different variants of Coronavirus?
Good question. Presently there has not been seen any major difference in the lingering effects of various variants. Besides the neurological memory issues seen post Covid-19, some people have complained of either lack of sleep or disrupted sleep cycle, anxiety and stress that have been attributed to raised stress hormones, mainly Cortisol. The raised levels of stress hormones do lead to insomnia and disrupted sleep cycle.