New research reveals that COVID-19 can damage the endothelial cells of the brain. The infection can also lead to the impairment of cognitive functions. Here’s more on the covid-19 side effects.
COVID-19 Side effects: Brain damage and more?
A new international collaborative study revealed one of the most dangerous COVID-19 side effects. Researchers from France, Spain, and Germany found that Covid can lead to blood vessel damage in the brain. This adversely affects cognitive functions as they kill endothelial cells. They are a major element of the vasculature that forms the blood-brain barrier. Hence, they shield the brain from immune cells and toxins.
Additionally, studies reveal that as high as 84 percent of the COVID-19 patients suffer from several neurological symptoms such as anosmia (loss of smell or taste), stroke, epileptic seizures, etc. Some patients also faced confusion and loss of explanation.
Here’ what the study reveals
This study may explain why people are experiencing severe neurological side effects. The study, published in Nature Neuroscience, was conducted by scanning the brains of people who did due to the virus. “We have seen that in hamsters, who develop very minor forms of Covid-19, the phenomenon is reversible, so we can hope that it could also be reversible in humans,” stated Vincent Prévot. Prévot is the co-author of the study and a researcher at Lille’s Inserm Research Center. Results also show that dead cells stop blood flow and are a major cognitive impairment. It leads to micro strokes and several other medical risks.
