Thinking impaired in 60% of COVID-19 survivors

Thinking impaired in 60% of COVID-19 survivors

In a sample of over 400 older adults in Argentina who had recovered from COVID-19, more than 60% displayed some degree of cognitive impairment, a researcher from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio reported July 29 at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference.

It is not known whether the impairment, such as forgetfulness and language difficulty, will be progressive, said Gabriel de Erausquin, MD, PhD, a neurologist with the health science center’s Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases. The individuals in the study are over 60 years of age and have been assessed once so far. They will be followed for the next three to five years, Dr. de Erausquin said.

The study is being conducted by Dr. de Erausquin and collaborators from the Alzheimer’s Association-led global Cognitive Neuropsychiatric Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (CNS SC2) consortium.

Problems with thinking were seen even in recovered COVID-19 patients who had only a mild cold or respiratory ailment after virus exposure, Dr. de Erausquin said.

The study team also assessed participants for anosmia, loss of the sense of smell. The olfactory bulb, which contains the brain cells that react to smell, is primarily where the COVID-19 virus enters the nervous system, Dr. de Erausquin said.

“Persistent lack of smell is associated with brain changes,” he said. “Once the virus has affected the olfactory bulb and caused effects there – changes that we can see with imaging – then other places in the brain that are connected to it also become abnormal, either in function or structure or both.”

Among the Argentine participants, 78% had recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection that was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. Testing confirmed that the other fourth of volunteers were never infected.

Of the 60% of recovered COVID-19 patients who had cognitive impairment, about one in three had severe cognitive impairment, Dr. de Erausquin said. This could be called “dementia-like syndrome,” because it looks like dementia but may not be persistent or progressive, he said.

People between the ages of 60 and 70 have about a 6% lifetime risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. The Argentine study population reflects a rate of cognitive impairment that is 10 times higher. “That is worrisome,” Dr. de Erausquin said. “This could be the start of a dementia-related epidemic fueled by this latest coronavirus.”

Olfactory dysfunction and chronic cognitive impairment following SARS-CoV-2 infection in a sample of older adults from the Andes mountains of Argentina.

Hernan P. Zamponi, MSc, Leonardo Juarez-Aguaysol, MD, Gabriela Kukoc, LCP, Maria Eugenia Dominguez, LCP, Belén Pini, LCP, Eduardo G Padilla, MD, Maria Calvó, MD, Silvia Beatriz Molina-Rangeon, MD, Gonzalo Guerrero, MD, Mariana Figueredo-Aguiar, LEd, Emiliano Fumagalli, PhD, Agustín Yécora, MD, Traolach S Brugha, MD, Sudha Seshadri, MD, Heather M. Snyder, PhD, Gabriel A. de Erausquin, MD, PhD, Gabriela Gonzalez-Aleman, LCP, PhD, and the Alzheimer’s Association CNS SARS-CoV-2 Consortium

Presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, July 29, 2021

https://alz.confex.com/alz/2021/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/57897



from ScienceBlog.com https://ift.tt/3fdwQuB

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

‘Massive-scale mobilization’ necessary for addressing climate change, scientists say

Image
A year after a global coalition of more than 11,000 scientists declared a climate emergency, Oregon State University researchers who initiated the declaration released an update today that points to a handful of hopeful signs, but shares continued alarm regarding an overall lack of progress in addressing climate risks. “Young people in more than 3,500 locations around the world have organized to push for urgent action,” said Oregon State University’s William Ripple, who co-authored “The Climate Emergency: 2020 in Review,” published today in Scientific American. “And the Black Lives Matter movement has elevated social injustice and equality to the top of our consciousness. “Rapid progress in each of the climate action steps we outline is possible if framed from the outset in the context of climate justice – climate change is a deeply moral issue. We desperately need those who face the most severe climate risks to help shape the response.” One year ago, Ripple, distinguished profess...
Read more

Wiggling worms suggest link between vitamin B12 and Alzheimer’s

Image
Worms don’t wiggle when they have Alzheimer’s disease. Yet something helped worms with the disease hold onto their wiggle in Professor Jessica Tanis’s lab at the University of Delaware. In solving the mystery, Tanis and her team have yielded new clues into the potential impact of diet on Alzheimer’s, the dreaded degenerative brain disease afflicting more than 6 million Americans. A few years ago, Tanis and her team began investigating factors affecting the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease. They were doing genetic research with  C. elegans , a tiny soil-dwelling worm that is the subject of numerous studies. Expression of amyloid beta, a toxic protein implicated in Alzheimer’s disease, paralyzes worms within 36 hours after they reach adulthood. While the worms in one petri dish in Tanis’s lab were rendered completely immobile, the worms of the same age in the adjacent petri dish still had their wiggle, documented as “body bends,” by the scientists. “It was an observa...
Read more

Addressing Concerns About ScienceFather Awards: Our Commitment to Transparency and Integrity

Image
At ScienceFather , we pride ourselves on maintaining the highest standards of transparency, credibility, and integrity in all our activities. Our awards, including the Best Researcher Award, are built on a rigorous selection process that evaluates the quality of research, innovation, and contributions across a wide range of fields. We understand that there may be concerns or misinformation circulating online about our organization. We take these concerns seriously and are actively working to clarify any misunderstandings. It is essential to address the misconceptions and provide an accurate picture of what ScienceFather stands for. Award Legitimacy: A Globally Recognized Honor The Best Researcher Award is a distinguished honor recognized around the world, with recipients from over 112 countries . Our selection process is based solely on the quality of research. There are no costs associated with the review or selection process , ensuring that the recognition is purely merit-based. Fi...
Read more