The fundamental reasons of one of the puzzling symptoms encountered by victims of long Covid – mental impairment caused by ‘brain fog’ – have been discovered by groundbreaking Australian research.
Doctors think they will be able to test prospective treatments for the ailment and maybe uncover new treatments for other cognitive injuries if they can identify the nerve toxin responsible for the fuzziness in the brain reported by long Covid patients.
However, until medication becomes available, the new research hints to some dismal realities for those who are currently suffering from brain fog.
Long Covid refers to a group of longer-term symptoms that some people who have been infected with the Covid-19 virus experience, including weariness, fever, joint discomfort, cough, headache, and difficulty concentrating or thinking clearly.
While researching the effects of long Covid, Bruce Brew, a neurologist at St Vincent’s Hospital and the University of New South Wales, found the discovery alongside colleagues.
Their research proves that brain fog is a real condition.
‘It validates that there is an organic basis for the cognitive impairment and gives us that target – in the past there’s been some controversy about long Covid and its related cognitive impairment,’ Dr Brew told Daily Mail Australia.
‘It gives us an explanation as to what the basis of the cognitive impairment is and it gives us a target.’
Brain fog refers to problems with memory, attention and executive function related to other long Covid symptoms.
‘There are some drugs that are being developed and trialed on other diseases that can have an effect on this pathway. It gives us the opportunity to look at it much more carefully and perhaps explore other therapeutic options.
‘These things (trialling cures) are always frustratingly slow but having a target, hopefully we’ll be able to fast track this with the support of other researchers around the world…
In a 12-month research of 128 patients at St Vincent’s Hospital, researchers discovered that the cognitive effects of long Covid can persist longer than a year, and in certain cases, may be permanent.
According to the findings, one out of every five patients exhibited cognitive difficulties that may be linked to a specific bodily circuit.
When infected, the Kynurenine pathway – which regulates energy, mood, and the immune system – can cause two substances to rise to dangerous levels.
Quinolinic acid and 3 Hydroxyanthranilic Acid levels may rise as a result of systemic infections.
Doctor Brew explained that ‘bits’ of the virus that should have been removed after the patient recovered from Covid might continue to trigger that immune system pathway, causing the symptoms of brain fog.
The pathway is intended to slow the immune system down when it has accomplished a task.
‘Its like someone is in a car park and they’ve got their foot on the accelerator – that’s the immune system going into overdrive – and this pathway has got the foot on the brake, and the car is edging forward, but its doing a lot of damage to the brakes and to the car itself,’ Dr Brew explained.
The procedure has the potential to induce irreparable nerve damage.
‘It injures the nerve cells and long enough exposure will kill some brain cells,’ he said, which can lead to longer-term brain impairment resembling ‘traumatic brain injuries’.
‘We don’t know to what extent patients with long Covid have fixed, irreversible damage as opposed to something that’s in the repair phase against ongoing damage.’
The Daily Mail Australia previously reported revelations from Dr Brew’s colleagues, including one senior doctor at St Vincent’s hospital who stated that patients with more than five symptoms while infected with Covid were more likely to develop long Covid symptoms.
Even the young and fit are not immune to the ‘highly variable and quite debilitating’ condition, according to Dr Anthony Byrne.
‘I saw a high functioning, young individual, he was in a high-flying job, who got Covid in December and he hasn’t been able to work since,’ he said.
That patient, Dr Byrne said, isn’t able to work because he suffers sleep issues, crippling fatigue and his brain ‘doesn’t work properly’.
It makes it difficult for him to perform complex activities and, on some days, even to find words.
Despite the lifted lockdowns and diminishing limitations, both Dr. Byrne and Dr. Brew have stated that Covid is far from gone, with its full impact extends beyond hospitalizations.
‘I think it’s a mistake to assess the impact of Covid on society just on the number of ICU admissions,’ Dr Byrne said.
‘Long Covid has a significant impact on the community and on individuals, and people do need to get vaccinated – it does seem to to lessen the issue of long Covid’s presence and severity – and at the same time recognise its not the last thing we can do either. We need to stay sensible,’ said Dr Brew.