Covid infection may cause an inflammatory response in the brain similar to Parkinson’s and dementia

Australian researchers have found a “silent killer” effect on Covid patients - which may explain brain fog.

Australian researchers have found a big clue as to why some people with Covid-19 develop Parkinson’s and dementia-like symptoms.

The research, led by scientists at the University of Queensland on blood samples from healthy people, found SARS-CoV-2 was causing the same type of inflammation in the brain as that seen in Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s sufferers.

Lead researcher Professor Trent Woodruff said it may explain some of the symptoms occurring in patients with brain fog.

But he said it was too early for the study to cause alarm, with much more work needed into how the virus may affect the human brain.

Trent Woodruff from the University of Queensland. Picture: Jamie Hanson

“We studied the effect of the virus on the brain’s immune cells, ‘microglia’, which are the key cells involved in the progression of brain diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s,” said Prof Woodruff.

“Our team grew human microglia in the laboratory and infected the cells with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19. We found the cells effectively became ‘angry’, activating the same pathway that Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s proteins can activate.”

Research co-author Dr Eduardo Albornoz Balmaceda said activating that pathway creates a “fire” in the brain, which leads to a “chronic and sustained” process of killing off neurons.

“It’s kind of a silent killer, because you don’t see any outward symptoms for many years,” Dr Balmaceda said.

The Queensland uni is behind the new study.

“It may explain why some people who’ve had Covid-19 are more vulnerable to developing neurological symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease.”

The researchers found the effects of a Covid infection were exacerbated if there were already proteins in the brain linked to Parkinson’s.

“If someone is already predisposed to Parkinson’s, having Covid could be like pouring more fuel on that ‘fire’ in the brain,” Prof Woodruff said.

“The same would apply for a predisposition for Alzheimer’s and other dementias that have been linked to inflammasomes.”

However, the study did include a hint of better news with the researchers identifying a potential treatment for the inflammation.

The findings may explain some of the symptoms occurring in patients with brain fog. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

The University of Queensland developed inhibitory drugs which are currently being used in clinical trials with Parkinson’s patients, “successfully blocked the inflammatory pathway activated by Covid”.

“The drug reduced inflammation in both Covid-infected mice and the microglia cells from humans, suggesting a possible treatment approach to prevent neurodegeneration in the future,” Dr Albornoz Balmaceda said.

Prof Woodruff said: “Further research is needed, but this is potentially a new approach to treating a virus that could otherwise have untold long-term health ramifications.

It comes as another wave of coronavirus is taking hold in Australia according to health authorities, driven by two new variants of Covid-19.

The new variants, named XBB and BQ. 1, have been detected in New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia, with cases and hospitalisations rising after what had been months of declines.

According to the RACGP, Victoria’s hospitalisations increased by 20 per cent in the week leading up to 28 October, prompting a health warning for people to make sure they are vaccinated and boosted, wearing masks when necessary, and self-isolating when symptomatic.

Originally published as Covid infection may cause an inflammatory response in the brain similar to Parkinson’s and dementia