Dear Subscriber,
Long haul COVID features significant neurological and cognitive issues. These include memory loss, cognitive decline, balance challenges, dizziness, light and noise sensitivity, paresthesias, taste/smell issues, disruption of the autonomic nervous system. Fatigue affects nearly a third, and cognitive impairment persisted in 22% of patients at 12 weeks from infection. There are reports that some with COVID related cognitive impairment might not realize they are affected. COVID apparently induces production of peptides (short proteins) that can assemble themselves into toxic amyloid clumps which damage neurons, induce neuro-inflammation, impair metabolism of the brain and CNS, and induce abnormalities in cerebrospinal fluid. Neurons lose the ability to regulate themselves. Myelin, which insulates neurons, is lost. Microglial cells (inflammatory cells) are reactive. The net effect is to induce a type of “chemo” brain (effects of chemotherapy).