🧠 Does COVID-19 Increase Alzheimer’s Risk? New Plasma Proteomic Evidence 🦠➡️🧠
A new study in Nature Medicine suggests that SARS-CoV-2 infection may accelerate β-amyloid pathology, a key hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). While past studies linked viral infections to dementia risk, this research provides biomarker-based evidence linking COVID-19 to changes associated with AD.
🔬 Key Findings from the Study:
✅ Reduced Aβ42:Aβ40 Ratio 🧪 – A key indicator of increased β-amyloid pathology was observed post-infection.
✅ Higher pTau-181 Levels 📈 – A biomarker associated with tau accumulation, another AD hallmark.
✅ Brain Structural Changes 🏥 – MRI scans showed patterns linked to Alzheimer’s-like neurodegeneration.
✅ Cognitive Decline 🧩 – Participants showed lower cognitive test scores and poorer overall health post-infection.
✅ Higher Risk in Vulnerable Groups 🚨 – Hospitalized COVID-19 patients and those with hypertension showed the greatest biomarker changes.
🧐 What Does This Mean?
🔹 While this does not prove causation, it suggests that SARS-CoV-2 infection could contribute to AD risk in older adults.
🔹 The effects seen may not be exclusive to COVID-19 but could reflect a broader impact of systemic infections on brain aging.
🔹 Preventing infections like COVID-19 may be a crucial risk modification strategy for Alzheimer’s disease.
📖 Read the full study in Nature Medicine: 🔗 Link
💬 Could post-COVID neuroinflammation accelerate neurodegeneration? How should we address this potential risk? Let’s discuss below! ⬇️
