Post-Covid infection patients are likely to have lasting effects on brain function and have dementia. Now, US researchers have found an overlap between Covid-19 and brain changes that are common in Alzheimer's. It may help inform risk management and therapeutic strategies for coronavirus-associated cognitive impairment.

While some studies suggest that SARS-CoV-2 infects brain cells directly, others found no evidence of the virus in the brain.

To explore this further, they investigated potential associations between Covid-19 and neuroinflammation and brain microvascular injury, which are both hallmarks of Alzheimer's.

"We discovered that SARS-CoV-2 infection significantly altered Alzheimer's markers implicated in brain inflammation and that certain viral entry factors are highly expressed in cells in the blood-brain barrier," said lead author Feixiong Cheng, from Cleveland Clinic's Genomic Medicine Institute.

The findings are published in the journal Alzheimer's Research & Therapy.

The researchers also analyzed the genetic factors that enabled SARS-COV-2 to infect brain tissues and cells.

The researchers also found that individuals with the allele APOE E4/E4, the greatest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's, had decreased expression of antiviral defense genes, which could make these patients more susceptible to Covid-19.

"Ultimately, we hope to have paved the way for research that leads to testable and measurable biomarkers that can identify patients at the highest risk for neurological complications with Covid-19," said Cheng.

(This story was published from a syndicated feed. Only the headline and picture has been edited by FIT)