COVID-19’s Lingering Shadow: Spike Protein Found to Impact Brain Health
New research suggests that persistent remnants of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein could contribute to the long-term neurological issues experienced by some COVID-19 survivors.
While many cases of COVID-19 resolve without lasting complications, a growing number of individuals report experiencing a range of neurologic problems, even after initial infection subsides. These long COVID symptoms often include brain fog, memory issues, and reduced gray matter density. The cause behind these lingering effects has been a subject of intense scientific inquiry.
Now, a groundbreaking study published in the journal Cell Host & Microbe offers new insights into this potential connection. Researchers have found evidence suggesting that the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, a key component of the virus responsible for binding to human cells, may persist in the skull, brain tissue, and meninges (membranes surrounding the brain) long after the virus itself has seemingly cleared.
"The spike protein was detected in the skull marrow, recently discovered skull-meninges connections (SMCs), and meninges of patients who died from acute COVID-19," the study reports. These findings suggest that even in the absence of detectable viral RNA, the lingering presence of the spike protein could be triggering an ongoing immune response and contributing to neuroinflammation.
The researchers further tested their hypothesis in animal models, confirming that the spike protein was indeed capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier, penetrating brain cells, and potentially disrupting normal function.
"Spike protein was also detected in the perinuclear space of meningeal cells and near NeuN-positive neurons in the brain’s frontal cortex, indicating its interaction with neuronal regions," the study states. This suggests a direct pathway for the spike protein to impact brain health.
Alarmingly, the study also showed a correlation between persistent spike protein in the skull marrow of deceased COVID-19 patients and elevated levels of biomarkers associated with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, such as tau protein and glial fibrillary acidic protein.
But there is a glimmer of hope. The research also found that mRNA vaccines, like the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, were able to significantly reduce the accumulation of spike protein in the brain and skull marrow of mice exposed to the virus.
Implications for long COVID patients:
These findings have significant implications for understanding and treating long COVID. The persistence of the spike protein in the brain could explain the persistent neurological symptoms experienced by many individuals after recovering from their initial infection.
Moreover, the study’s findings highlight the potential long-term neuroprotective benefits of COVID-19 vaccines. By reducing the amount of spike protein that accumulates in the brain, vaccination may help protect individuals from the potential neurological consequences of infection, both in the short and long term.
This groundbreaking research represents a crucial step forward in unraveling the complex mystery of long COVID and paves the way for the development of targeted therapies aimed at mitigating its debilitating effects.
Image Credit: sciencepics / Shutterstock
