The list of negative symptoms caused by the Covid-19 virus seems to go on forever.
New viral epidemics like Middle Eastern respiratory disease (MERS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) have tormented humankind for the past 20 years (MERS). These diseases are marked by a high mortality and a dearth of effective treatments. In 2019, a brand-new coronavirus illness emerged in China, and by March 2020, it had spread worldwide. It appears as a respiratory illness marked by cough, fever, and dyspnea. Even while a small percentage of patients require hospitalisation and occasionally intubation for serious respiratory distress, the majority of individuals only have mild or moderate infections. Covid-19 has the potential to move outside of the respiratory system, leading to acute renal failure, a coagulopathy resembling intravascular coagulation and thrombosis, and ultimately multi-organ failure.
According to recent studies, Parkinson’s disease and the Covid-19 virus both cause an inflammatory response in the brain. It’s possible that those with neurological diseases are much more susceptible to the virus. The impact of the virus on the brain’s immune cells known as microglia was investigated by a research team from the University of Queensland. These cells are crucial to the development of neurological disorders like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
In order to infect the microglia with SARS- CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, the team produced microglia in the lab. The outcome? According to Trent Woodruff, co-author and professor of pharmacology at the University of Queensland, the cells “got angry, triggering the same pathway that Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s proteins might activate in disease, the inflammasomes.”
The group sent a manuscript to the journal Molecular Psychiatry of Nature. According to the study, the Covid-19 virus included a “spike protein” that allegedly “activated the inflammasome pathway” and caused the systematic death of neurons, the basic building blocks of the brain and nervous system.
So having COVID-19 “may be like throwing additional fuel on that ‘fire’ in the brain if someone is already prone to Parkinson’s,” said Woodruff. Many people won’t even be
able to identify any evident signs, according to Dr. Eduardo Albornoz Balmaceda from UQ’s School of Biomedical Sciences, who also participated in the study that investigated the potential link between the virus and Parkinson’s disease. He cautioned that the condition “is kind of a quiet killer” because it takes several years before any obvious symptoms appear.
A Glimmer Of Hope For Parkinson’s Covid Patients?
However, for Covid-19 individuals with underlying conditions, there is yet hope.
degenerative disorders of the brain. For Parkinson’s sufferers, the researchers were able to create certain inhibitory medicines that are currently undergoing clinical testing. According to reports, the medication decreased inflammation in both human microglia cells and animals with Covid-19. This suggests that the medication may be able to halt the progression of neurodegeneration in the future. Dr. Balmaceda stated, “We discovered it successfully prevented the inflammatory pathway induced by Covid 19, essentially putting out the fire.” The Queensland study team intends to cause experimental Parkinson’s disease in the mice to test if they recover from the virus, according to Woodruff, who spoke to the Xinhua News Agency.
In order to avoid contracting the Covid-19 virus, people with Parkinson’s disease must exercise additional vigilance. This is how.
In order to avoid contracting the Covid-19 virus, people with Parkinson’s disease must exercise additional vigilance. Here are some tips for defending against Covid-19:
Often wash your hands
Avoid touching your face.
Be stricter about avoiding social contact.
Avoid handshakes.
Keep away from crowds
