Study Finds Brain Receptor Link to Long Covid Cognitive Symptoms
A groundbreaking study has shed light on the cognitive symptoms of Long Covid. Researchers from Japan have discovered that an increase in AMPA receptors, key molecules for memory and learning, is linked to cognitive impairment in Long Covid patients.
The study, published in the journal Nature, used a novel imaging technique to visualize AMPA receptors in the living brains of Long Covid patients. It found a notable and widespread increase in the density of these receptors across various brain regions compared to healthy individuals.
The elevated receptor density was directly correlated with the severity of cognitive impairment. Patients with higher AMPA receptor density experienced more severe brain fog and other cognitive symptoms. The study also found a correlation between increased concentrations of inflammatory markers and AMPA receptor levels in Long Covid patients.
The imaging data showed remarkable accuracy in distinguishing Long Covid patients from healthy controls, with 100% sensitivity and 91% specificity. This could pave the way for new diagnostic tools for the condition.
The study provides a direct biological explanation for the cognitive symptoms of Long Covid and highlights AMPA receptors as a potential target for treatments. It suggests that drugs that suppress AMPA receptor activity could be a viable approach to mitigate brain fog in Long Covid. The findings could accelerate the development of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for Long Covid, offering hope to the many people still struggling with its cognitive symptoms.
