A new study by the University of Washington / UW Medicine Health Sciences strongly argues that the Covid-19 virus can show patients mental effects such as brain fog and fatigue.
The study published in Nature Neuroscience shows that the SARS-CoV-2, the cause of Covid-19, can enter the brain. Researchers found, through a mouse model, that the spike protein, often seen as the red arm of the virus, can cross a blood-brain barrier in mice.
The spike protein, often called the S1 protein, determines where the virus can enter. The virus usually does the same thing as its binding protein, said lead author William A. Banks, a professor of medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine and a veteran physician and researcher of the Veterans Affairs Health Care System Puget Sound.
Banks said, “Binding proteins like S1 alone usually cause damage as they separate from the virus and cause inflammation. The S1 protein appears to trigger the brain’s release of cytokines and inflammatory products. ”
In science circles, the severe inflammation caused by Covid-19 infection is called cytokine storm. The immune system, when it sees the virus and its proteins, overwhelms its attempt to kill the invading virus. The infected person is left with brain fog, fatigue and other mental issues.
Banks and his team saw this reaction with the HIV virus and wanted to see if the same thing happened with SARS CoV-2.
Banks said, “Protein S1 in SARS-CoV2 and GP protein 120 in HIV-1 work in the same way. They are glycoproteins – proteins that are high in sugar, signaling proteins that bind to other receptors. ”
The researchers also found that these two proteins act as arms and hand for their viruses by attaching to other receptors. Both cross the blood-brain barrier and S1, like gp120, is likely toxic to brain tumors.
Fifteen people in the laboratory began their tests for S1 protein in April. They enrolled longtime collaborator Jacob Raber, professor in the departments of Behavioral Neuroscience, Neurology, and Radiation Medicine, and his teams at the University of Oregon Health & Science.
The study could explain many of the problems from Covid-19.
“A further explanation is that the virus enters the respiratory centers of the brain and causes problems there as well,” Banks said.
Regarding people who get the virus lightly, Banks said, “You do not want to eat with the virus. Many of the effects of the Covid virus may be exacerbated or removed or even caused by a virus getting in the brain and these effects may last for a long time. ”
(This story was published from a wire group group without altering the text.)
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