Protein clumps 'cause' of fogging post long Covid

Melbourne, July 6

Scientists have found the first indications that some of the neurological symptoms in long Covid are being caused by protein clumps appearing in the brain that are similar to those that lead to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, shows similarities between the effects of Covid-19 and the early stages of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson. The researchers cautioned that the implications of the changes were unclear and did not necessarily suggest people might have lasting damage.

If further studies confirm that amyloid clumps are contributing towards long Covid, then drugs which have been developed to combat Alzheimer’s and Parkinson may be repurposed to treat these debilitating symptoms, they said.

“It may be possible that existing drugs may be used to treat the brain fog that affects a significant portion of people who go on to experience long-Covid having been infected with SARS-CoV-2,” said Nick Reynolds from La Trobe University in Australia.