Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jan 14, 2025 13 hours, 14 minutes ago
Medical News: Vascular dementia, commonly abbreviated as VaD, is the second leading cause of dementia worldwide. This form of cognitive decline arises from diminished blood flow to the brain and the disruption of the blood-brain barrier, critical for maintaining a healthy neurological environment. Recent data have shed light on an intriguing relationship between vascular dementia and long COVID, a chronic condition following COVID-19 infection characterized by persistent symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, and cognitive difficulties.
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Common Links Between Long COVID and Vascular Dementia
The research team, composed of Grant Talkington, Saifudeen Ismael, Gregory W. Hall II, and Gregory J. Bix from Tulane University-USA, has taken a deeper dive into the shared mechanisms of these two conditions. This
Medical News report examines their findings, which provide important insights into how vascular dysfunction underpins both long COVID and vascular dementia. By identifying overlapping mechanisms, the study holds promise for future therapeutic approaches.
Investigating the Mechanisms
In their groundbreaking study, the researchers utilized a novel animal model to simulate both vascular dementia and long COVID. Twelve-week-old C57 mice underwent bilateral carotid artery stenosis (BCAS) to mimic the conditions leading to vascular dementia. These mice were then inoculated intranasally with the Mouse Adapted 10 (MA-10) strain of SARS-CoV-2 at a dose of 1×10⁴ PFU. The team followed the mice until 15 days post-infection, allowing them to study the chronic phase of COVID-19.
The study’s approach combined vascular injury with SARS-CoV-2 infection, effectively creating a dual model of vascular dementia and long COVID. Such a model enabled the team to unravel how these two conditions intersect at a mechanistic level. The findings revealed crucial changes in brain signaling pathways, offering evidence of commonalities between the two conditions.
Key Findings of the Study
The most striking discovery came from bulk RNA sequencing of brain tissue samples. Using advanced tools like Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA), the researchers observed significant changes in signaling pathways. Key pathways such as IL-6, IL-1β, and pathogen-associated molecular response patterns were notably altered.
-Inflammatory Pathways: Both IL-6 and IL-1β are prominent inflammatory markers. Their dysregulation is known to exacerbate brain inflammation, a critical factor in both vascular dementia and long COVID. The study revealed heightened activity in these pathways, suggesting that inflammation serves as a common thread.
-Pathogen-Associated Responses: The activation of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) provided additional evidence of the immune system’s role in worsening brain conditions. PAMPs are typically associated with the body’s response to infectious agents, and their heightened activity in this study highlights how SARS-CoV-2 infection amplifies vascular injury.
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-Cerebral Hypoperfusion: Similar to vascular dementia, long COVID demonstrated reduced blood flow in the brain. This shared feature, observed through fMRI studies, aligns with earlier research indicating that both conditions involve compromised brain perfusion.
Implications of the Research
This study is significant because it establishes a direct link between the mechanisms of vascular dementia and long COVID. The findings suggest that existing treatments targeting vascular dysfunction in dementia patients might also benefit those suffering from long COVID. This revelation opens new doors for repurposing drugs and developing therapies that address shared pathways.
Furthermore, the model used in this study sets the stage for more comprehensive research. By combining vascular injury with a viral infection, it offers a powerful tool for studying complex interactions between neurological and immune systems.
Conclusions
The research conducted by the team at Tulane University emphasizes the intertwined nature of vascular dementia and long COVID. Their findings indicate that inflammation, immune responses, and impaired blood flow are central to both conditions. By uncovering these shared mechanisms, the study not only advances our understanding of long COVID but also provides a pathway for innovative treatments.
The study underscores the need for multidisciplinary approaches to tackling these conditions. Collaboration between neurologists, immunologists, and vascular specialists will be key to addressing the complexities highlighted by this research.
Moreover, patients suffering from either condition stand to benefit from therapies targeting vascular health, potentially reducing the burden of cognitive decline and long-term COVID-19 symptoms.
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal: Alzheimer’s & Dementia.
https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/alz.089568
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Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/british-study-finds-that-60-percent-of-individuals-aged-60-above-exposed-to-sars-cov-2-will-develop-dementia
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/strategies-to-combat-covid-19-linked-brain-amyloids-and-dementia-alzheimer
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/covid-19-news-tulane-university-study-finds-that-sars-cov-2-aggravates-conditions-in-those-with-vascular-dementia
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