Scientists Unraveling , COVID's Impact on the Brain , to Develop New Treatments.
'TIME' reports that scientists have been working
to determine how COVID-19 impacts the brain
and nervous system since early in the pandemic.
NYU Langone Health has been tracking
the acute symptoms and long-term neurological
issues that have been associated with Long COVID.
Program director Dr. Sharon Meropol says his team has
identified a list of neurocognitive issues that include:.
cognitive decline, changes in brain size and structure,
depression and suicidal thoughts, tremors, seizures,
memory loss, and new or worsened dementia.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and
Stroke (NINDS) is currently enrolling participants in a
study on immunotherapy as a treatment for Long COVID.
According to Dr. Avindra Nath, clinical director of the
NINDS, this potential treatment is promising as it is
already used to treat a number of other conditions.
This means that the treatment could be made
available for those with Long COVID relatively
quickly, if it proves to be an effective treatment.
'TIME' reports that preliminary research has suggested
that blood-thinning drugs could help break up
"microclots" associated with systemic inflammation.
According to researchers, breaking up
those "microclots" in the blood could relieve
symptoms like fatigue and brain fog.
Dr. Lara Jehi, who researches COVID-19 and the brain
at the Cleveland Clinic, remains hopefully that
brain changes linked to COVID are reversible. .
The brain is incredibly neuroplastic,
and it can do amazing things, Dr. Wes Ely, Researcher at Vanderbilt
University Medical Center, via 'Time'