A year ago, when the first cases of COVID-19 were detected in Wuhan, China, health experts considered it a respiratory virus, mainly attacking and damaging the lungs and heart. However, as the number of cases increased and the death toll began to accumulate, they soon realized that highly infectious diseases can wreak havoc on almost every organ – including the brain.
Mysterious symptoms, including brain fog, fatigue, loss of taste and smell and even stroke, convulsions and delirium were reported by patients. And, some of them were still experiencing these manifestations of the virus for months after their initial infection. Now, researchers may be closer to understanding why people are suffering from the virus’s cognitive effects. Keep reading – and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss out on these Clear signs that you’ve had Coronavirus.
Coronavirus invades the brain, researchers say
A new study published on December 16 in Nature Neuroscience identified that the virus protein spike can cross the blood-brain barrier, at least in rats. This would mean that SARS-CoV-2 can literally invade the brain.
On a Press release accompanying the study, the corresponding author, William A. Banks, professor of medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine and physician and researcher at the Puget Sound Veterans Health System, explained that said peak protein, also known as protein S1, dictates which cells the virus can enter. Typically, the virus does the same thing as its binding protein, he explained, and can cause damage by separating from the virus and cause inflammation. “The S1 protein probably causes the brain to release cytokines and inflammatory products,” he said.
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Signs that COVID invaded your brain
This intense inflammation is described as a “cytokine storm” and was first identified in cases of COVID-19 by doctors. In short, it is an overreaction of the immune system in an attempt to kill the invading virus. Therefore, the patient is left with:
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Mental confusion: Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s leading infectious disease specialist and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, described this “brain fog” as “difficulty concentrating.” It can affect people with COVID-19 and is a primary symptom of Post-COVID Syndrome, which affects 10% or more of those who contract COVID.
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Fatigue: The most common symptom of Post-COVID Syndrome, this fatigue can be a suction of the soul and resemble myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
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Other cognitive problems: Doctors reported seeing patients suffering from hallucinations and delirium. “Delirium is a syndrome that is characterized by the acute onset of brain dysfunction with a change or fluctuation in the basal mental state, as well as inattention and disorganized thinking or an altered level of consciousness”, he reports Pharmacy Times.
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Shortness of breathe: Knowing that this same reaction occurs with the HIV virus, Banks and his team wanted to see if this was also happening with SARS CoV-2. “It was like déjà vu,” he revealed. Jacob Raber, professor in the departments of Behavioral Neuroscience, Neurology and Radiological Medicine, and his teams at Oregon Health & Science University, added that his research may explain the complications of COVID-19. “We know that when you have the COVID infection you have difficulty breathing and that is because there is an infection in your lung, but an additional explanation is that the virus enters the respiratory centers of the brain and causes problems there too,” said Banks.
The researchers also found that the process was faster in men than in women, which could explain why men are more susceptible to serious infections than women.
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Long-term damage is possible – so stay safe
Banks noted that the impact of COVID on the brain may not be fleeting. “You don’t want to mess with this virus,” said Raber. “Many of the effects that the COVID virus has can be heightened or perpetuated or even caused by viruses entering the brain and these effects can last for a long time.”
If you experience any of the symptoms mentioned here – cognitive problems, difficulty breathing, brain fog – seek medical attention.
And one more reason to follow the fundamentals of public health and help stop this increase, no matter where you live – use a face mask, social distance, avoid large crowds, do not go home with people you are not sheltering (especially in bars), practice good hand hygiene, be vaccinated when it is available to you and to protect your life and the lives of others, don’t visit any of these 35 places you’re most likely to reach COVID.