Reyna Katko
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- University of Kentucky researchers made a major breakthrough in understanding long COVID: it could lead to Alzheimer’s-like brain changes.
"I was shocked how people will find COVID in their brain," Dr. Yang Jiang said.
Jiang, Bob Sompol, and Chris Norris are the three researchers from University of Kentucky’s Sanders-Brown Center on Aging who spent years studying COVID-19 patients.
"I feel like a little detective," Jiang said.
The trio discovered brain functions after Long COVID are strikingly similar to those with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.
That includes brain fog, confusion, and memory deficits.
The researchers connected with other scientist and got their study published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association.
"The panel was made up of international experts from six different countries," Jiang explained.
It highlights brain disorders and focuses on understanding brain fog, a symptom so many COVID survivors experience months after testing positive.
"When you get an infection, it's not infecting [you] one way," Sompol said. "It infects your nose, your lung, and then it goes to your bloodstream."
They hope to continue their research.
"I don't think we totally fully understand long-COVID yet," Jiang said.
She encourages everyone to monitor their brain health and get regular check-ups. Jiang believes early detection could help health care providers identify at-risk patients sooner.
This could slow, or even prevent, memory loss and concentration issues.
"COVID is not just affecting your lungs," Jiang said. "So you need to check [the] health of the whole body."
Access the interview here: https://www.wdrb.com/steam/from-covid-to-cognition-kentucky-researchers-find-covid-19-could-lead-to-alzheimers/article_e26b00f0-78f2-11ef-ad8b-6f1e4b24f769.html