r/science • u/Wagamaga • Feb 03 '25

Neuroscience Scientists discover that even mild COVID-19 can alter brain proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease, potentially increasing dementia risk—raising urgent public health concerns.

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/260553/covid-19-linked-increase-biomarkers-abnormal-brain/
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u/Wagamaga Feb 03 '25 edited Feb 03 '25

Researchers have uncovered a link between COVID-19 and blood markers linked to faulty proteins in the brain.

In an analysis led by researchers at Imperial College London and the UK Dementia Research Institute, scientists found that people who had previously had COVID-19 were more likely to have increased levels of biomarkers linked to faulty amyloid proteins – a known hallmark for Alzheimer’s disease.

On average, the effects were comparable to four years of ageing with the greatest effects seen in those hospitalised with severe COVID-19 or with underlying risk factors for dementia such as smoking or high blood pressure.

According to the researchers, the findings suggest that mild or moderate COVID-19 may accelerate biological processes that contribute to the buildup of disease-promoting amyloid in the brain. The new results raise the possibility that COVID-19 might contribute to an increase in later risks of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

However, the team urges caution with the findings. They explain their observational study is unable to prove any causal links between COVID-19 and dementia. They also stress it is still unclear whether the effect is specific to SARS-CoV-2 infection, or if a similar effect could be associated with other common infections such as influenza or pneumonia.

Overall, the study provided new evidence that COVID-19 may accelerate Alzheimer’s disease-related brain changes, even in individuals with mild infections. The observed alterations in plasma biomarkers suggested a potential long-term impact on brain health.

While further research is needed to confirm these findings, the authors emphasized that their results align with previous reports suggesting an increased incidence of dementia following COVID-19. These findings highlight the importance of long-term monitoring, preventive interventions, and future public health strategies aimed at mitigating post-COVID neurological risks.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-03426-4

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u/GenderJuicy Feb 03 '25 edited Feb 03 '25

However, the team urges caution with the findings. They explain their observational study is unable to prove any causal links between COVID-19 and dementia. They also stress it is still unclear whether the effect is specific to SARS-CoV-2 infection, or if a similar effect could be associated with other common infections such as influenza or pneumonia.

That paragraph is pretty important

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u/Iteration23 Feb 03 '25

Theres about to be a four year gap in serious reporting, I presume?

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u/zypofaeser Feb 03 '25

Inside the US. Not world-wide.

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u/amkoc Feb 03 '25

I'm not so sure, the sort of right-wing populism that got the current crop elected has been increasing globally, wouldn't be surprised if similar things happen in other countries eventually.

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u/jusbreathe26 Feb 03 '25

Maybe we gotta learn mandarin, French, German, Russian, and more to keep up with the latest research

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u/zypofaeser Feb 03 '25

Well, much will still be published in English. England, Canada, Emutopia, Kiwiland, India, and many international scientific institutions will continue to use English.

But as Tom Lehrer sang it: "In German, oder Englisch, I know how to count down, und I'm learning Chinese, says Wernher von Braun."

Learning a few more languages will always be useful, even if you're not building rockets.

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u/jusbreathe26 Feb 04 '25

Thank you for the assurance!

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u/All_Bonered_UP Feb 03 '25

Funny how the US folks think they are the center of the world. If they don't do anything nothing gets done I guess.

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u/CotyledonTomen Feb 03 '25

We are discussing medical research. The US is one of the largest public funders of medical research in the world, not to mention one of the biggest private funders of new medications, due to the terrible private insurance and laws surrounding pharmaceutical pricing. Considering trumps arbitrary cuts, including to the NIH and WHO, not the center of the world, but it will have an effect.

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u/Iteration23 Feb 03 '25

The US is a big participant, but this is an ideologically anti science movement and it is global. There are rippling effects on many levels.

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u/chiefmud Feb 03 '25

In very broad strokes. Inflammation is bad for the brain m’kay? 

Anti inflammatory diet, exercise, and sleep help out quite a bit!

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u/Shaeress Feb 04 '25

It is wild to me that we've just recently started learning how much common viral infections contribute to our long term health. Like how HPV was isolated as the main cause of cervical cancer (95% of cervical cancer caused by HPV, according to WHO). A disease that for a while was thought to be essentially harmless. Because most of the time it's largely asymptomatic and the vast majority of Sexually active adults get it.

And then we just know very little about the long term effects of so many common viruses. The common flu strains being incredibly well studied, but with very little knowledge about what they actually do to the human body because practically everyone gets them many times. COVID makes for a very interesting scientific case in that way at least.

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u/Shadows802 Feb 03 '25

It does explain the current US presidency though.

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u/KristiiNicole Feb 04 '25

So what was the excuse back in 2016, several years prior to Covid-19 existing in humans?

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u/catalinaicon Feb 05 '25

Still very concerned as someone with dementia running in their family who got covid twice

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u/Snooty_Cutie Feb 03 '25

Yeah. Too many other variables, like hypertension and other illness that cause inflammatory responses, at play to conclusively say COVID-19 leads to Alzheimer’s.

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u/Character-Storm-3145 Feb 03 '25

It's very important but doesn't add to the fear-mongering about COVID, so they aren't going to lead with that

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u/Op111Fan Feb 03 '25

They want you to read the article.

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u/jimmy_three_shoes Feb 03 '25

My Grandfather had early symptoms of dementia (forgetfulness and would lose his train of thought occasionally) got COVID bad (3 weeks in the hospital), and within 6 months he was in full blown dementia. Had to take his keys away, got out one snowy evening and wandered the neighborhood in a t-shirt and jeans, and had no idea who anyone except my grandma was.

My Grandma on my Dad's side was diagnosed with Alzheimer's back in 2002, and her decline was a lot more gradual, probably taking almost a full decade to no longer recognize my Dad and my Uncles. I look identical to my Grandpa, so she always thought I was him.

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u/Pinkmongoose Feb 04 '25

My FiL had maybe mild forgetfulness, got a mild Covid infection and within a couple of weeks had undeniable dementia. Could be a coincidence, but the timing and rate of acceleration is certainly concerning.

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u/Miserygut Feb 04 '25

Sorry to hear about your FiL. My dad is a long-term stroke survivor (20+ years) and when he first caught Covid it was like his short term memory was completely gone. For example, he couldn't understand how to work a TV remote. His consultant neurologist said he had 'decompensated', all of the little tips and tricks his brain had built up over the years to mask and work around the issues related to his stroke were gone and his brain was having to try and work things out from scratch each time with varied success. The MRIs from before and after Covid showed he had inflammation of the meninges but no infection.

It took months to recover back to relative normality. He has had Covid once more since then without a relapse in symptoms but his predisposition to dementia due to stroke is much more obvious now.

Everyone is different but it may be that Covid interferes with this 'work around' function that the brain has and exposes / exacerbates underlying disorders.

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u/bluewhitecup Feb 04 '25

I had 7+ covid, more likely 10. All mild and no long covid, although I get sick easily now. It's been a year finally covid free and my brain fog is still intense. Can't form sentences as easily as before. Probably lost 10 IQ points.

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u/Forsaken_Bison_8623 Feb 06 '25

Sorry you are going through this. Unfortunately each infection damages the immune system and the brain, and the damage is cumulative.

Study shows even mild SARS-CoV-2 infections cause changes in EEG signatures that indicate cognitive decline, also in children and adolescents. https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-024-03481-1

COVID-19 Leaves Its Mark on the Brain. Significant Drops in IQ Scores Are Noted https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/covid-19-leaves-its-mark-on-the-brain-significant-drops-in-iq-scores-are/

February 2024 study in the New England Journal of Medicine that shows that every infection impacts the brain - Very large study that followed 800,000 people over three years. Link to study: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2311330

What Repeat COVID Infections Do to Your Body, According to Science SARS-CoV-2 behaves differently than a common cold or flu virus—and can do major long-term damage. https://www.self.com/story/covid-reinfection-health-effects

Memorial Sloan Kettering: One of the most concerning long-term impacts of COVID-19 is immune dysregulation and dysfunction. https://libguides.mskcc.org/CovidImpacts/Immune

New research shows COVID’s impact is more prolonged than previously thought, with signs of inflammation and traces of virus detectable years after infection. The results raise uncomfortable questions about long-term health implications that we are only beginning to understand. https://www.statnews.com/2024/07/03/long-covid-ucsf-study-finds-virus-presence-years-post-infection/

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u/GreenGlassDrgn Feb 04 '25

I also noticed a connection between my moms rapid decline and covid, to the point where I actually asked the doctors about it when she was diagnosed with alzheimers last summer. They just gave me the look they give people whove been reading too much online (I hadnt though) and said it probably didnt have anything to do with it. Her story is the same as your grandfathers.

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u/Emotional_Bunch_799 Feb 03 '25

Welp, I'm glad that I never stopped wearing my N95. Infection control is easier than trying to repair the damage of a novel virus when we don't have supportive public health systems that prioritize long COVID cure and prevention.

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u/Iteration23 Feb 03 '25

And evolution forbid this virus has a part 2 like chickenpox/shingles!

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u/sylvnal Feb 04 '25

Actually I recall reading (this was last year, so perhaps more information has been gleaned since then) that they were theorizing long covid was because of covid remaining in the system long term (I don't know what the specifically means, like if it's just hiding out in certain cell types or what). But if it does hang out in the body long term in some people, I don't see why it couldn't flare up again with some unknown trigger. It's totally a possibility.

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u/LukesRightHandMan Feb 03 '25

Can you please elaborate? I’m not familiar with that

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u/The_Tiddler Feb 03 '25

If you didn't get the chickenpox vaccine, and had chickenpox as a child, there is a chance you can get shingles in old age.

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u/morticiannecrimson Feb 04 '25

Or at the age of 29…

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u/Ok_Frosting3500 Feb 04 '25

I mean, we already have its secret bonus mode, where it chases your covid with reactivating prior mono. Makes getting back to work real fun.

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u/Nikadaemus Feb 03 '25

I've seen a massive spike in Lewy Body driven neurologist disorders

Junk getting printed out of your Ribosomes is my bet, as my Mom never got Rona but has a "Parkinsons" diagnosis now and it accelerated far beyond typical progress rates

The increase in such diagnosis and related disease is incredibly high 

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u/HumanWithComputer Feb 03 '25

I've seen a massive spike in Lewy Body driven neurologist disorders

Check out the link of Covid with synuclein/Alpha-synucleopathies. Also with the related dream enactment sleep disorder. Not good.

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u/middlegray Feb 03 '25

I'm sorry to hear that.

What can we do about it? Just get vaxed for flu and COVID every year? Is natural immunity worth it in very healthy, young individuals who've been vaccinated in the past as opposed to yearly vaccinations?

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u/lil_garlicc Feb 03 '25

You can mask, especially in airports and on planes… and in hospitals. That would be the bare minimum. You can avoid crowded indoor concerts until people start taking indoor air quality seriously.

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u/token_internet_girl Feb 03 '25

You can avoid crowded indoor concerts until people start taking indoor air quality seriously

I plan to mask in crowded spaces forever at this point, because there is no way everyone takes it seriously.

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u/apcolleen Feb 04 '25

I went to my new cardiologist last month and in the entire department she and I were the only ones masking. She said so you're still wearing a mask eh? I said There's still covid eh? and we laughed. In the entire first and second floor where I was at I saw only about 3 others masking. This is Atlanta, not Goobersberg.

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u/Anxious-Tadpole-2745 Feb 03 '25

All illness is like cancer. There's no good cancer. If you can avoid getting cancer that's best. 

Young people also recover from cancer more often than old people. But we still tell them to avoid cancer causing habits and we ban cancer causing agents especially around children. 

Now, illness isn't nearly as devastating but it's still not a net good. Get vaccinated and a wear a mask if you're flying or around people who are sick.

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u/Whole_Coconut9297 Feb 04 '25

Why do you think that alzheimers drug was approved so quickly at the beginning of covid? This isn't new. Studies were being pumped out at this time and were being downplayed as conspiracy