Results published in the journal Movement Disorders indicated that COVID-19 infected persons were more prone to develop the risk of brain degeneration, similar to Parkinsons disease.

Genetically engineered mice models were designed to express the human ACE-2 receptor which were infected with SARS-CoV-2 and allowed to recover. After the surviving animals had recovered for a month, one group was given a low dose of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), which did not produce any normal neuron loss, while the control group was given saline. The brains of the animals were evaluated two weeks later.

The researchers discovered that the dopaminergic neurons in the basal ganglia were not affected by the Covid-19 infection alone. A low dose of MPTP when administered to the mice, after recovering from Covid-19 infection showed the characteristic pattern of neuron loss found in Parkinsons disease. In a previous study related to influenza, a similar enhancement in the sensitivity after Covid-19 infection was observed.

Researchers concluded that the coronavirus renders brain neurons more vulnerable to toxins, bacteria, or even an underlying genetic defect that causes neuron death.

A recent study published in the journal eClinicalMedicine revealed that a severe Covid-19 infection could produce cognitive impairment between the ages of 50 and 70, equal to that seen with 20 years of ageing. This is the equivalent of a ten-point drop in IQ. (Livemint, May 22, 2022)