Covid-19 linked to brain changes associated with Alzheimer's disease, study finds
Researchers at Imperial College London found that Covid-19 infection is linked to increased levels of biomarkers associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The changes observed were similar to those seen with four years of aging, especially in patients hospitalized with severe Covid-19. The study, published in Nature Medicine, indicates that mild or moderate Covid-19 may accelerate processes that lead to harmful amyloid protein buildup in the brain. This suggests a potential increased risk of Alzheimer’s in the future. The research analyzed data from 1,252 UK Biobank participants aged 46 to 80, comparing those with confirmed Covid-19 infections to similar individuals without prior infections. The findings show significant changes in blood proteins related to Alzheimer’s pathology.