COVID-19 patients at high risk of nerve disorders

A new study, found that those who had tested positive for COVID-19 were at an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and ischaemic stroke.

Out of the 9 lac individuals that tested for COVID-19 within the study, researchers found that the 43,375 people who tested positive had a 3.5 times increased risk of being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, 2.6 times with Parkinson's disease, 2.7 times with ischaemic stroke and a 4.8 times increased with intracerebral haemorrhage (bleeding in the brain).

While neuroinflammation may contribute to an accelerated development of neurodegenerative disorders, the authors also highlighted this could also be a possible long-term sequela after COVID-19.

The frequency of other neurodegenerative illnesses such as multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, Guillain-Barré syndrome and narcolepsy did not increase after COVID-19.

Hence, the researchers concluded that these findings will help to inform our understanding of the long-term effect of COVID-19 on the body and that infections can play a role in neurodegenerative diseases and stroke.

 Reference: COVID-19 positive patients at higher risk of developing neurodegenerative disorders; EMOTIVE MEETING 8th EAN Congress 24th JUNE.