Scientists have found out what leads to brain problems, or the so-called “brain fog”, in patients with COVID-19. The results of the study were published in the journal Cancer Cell, RIA Novosti reports.
Experts at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York and colleagues examined the cerebrospinal fluid of 18 cancer patients diagnosed with neurological dysfunction after contracting COVID-19.
The illness is accompanied by symptoms such as fatigue, memory loss, confusion and other anomalies. “We found inflammation and high levels of cytokines in the cerebrospinal fluid in the patients, which explained their symptoms,” said researcher Jan Remsik.
Cytokines are a category of proteins that control the development and homeostasis of the immune system. According to the researchers, in some cases, the coronavirus provokes an overproduction of these molecules and leads to the so-called life-threatening cytokine storm.
Thus, experts have come to the conclusion that the flow of such chemicals in the immune system enters the brain. “This causes the symptoms of encephalopathy – brain damage – observed in patients,” the scientists concluded.
Earlier it was reported that researchers have found a link between incurable Alzheimer's disease and severe COVID-19. It turned out that the ApoE4 gene, which increases the risk of senile dementia, also increases a person's susceptibility to coronavirus.
