The spread of the Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus is believed to be bringing back symptoms of long-standing Covid, including brain fog. It can cause memory loss and cognitive problems due to infection.
Now, a team of researchers at the University of California has linked brain fog to the way the Sars-CoV-2 virus affects a person’s spine.
They analyzed cerebrospinal fluid from Covid-19 survivors and found elevated levels of the protein in some samples. This suggests some of the inflammation occurs as a result of the immune response to the virus, the researchers said.
“The virus-stimulated immune system may act in an unexpected pathological way,” said the study’s senior author, Dr. Joanna Helmus.
The research has been published in the Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology. For the study, researchers studied 32 Covid-19 survivors. Of these, 22 patients reported cognitive problems.
They took samples through a lumbar puncture to collect a patient’s spinal fluid.
The researchers hope their study will help doctors better understand why people develop brain fog due to Covid-19.
Scientists have identified a number of symptoms associated with Omicron variants. Tim Spector, professor of genetic epidemiology at King’s College London, said nausea and loss of appetite were the most common symptoms, even in those who were fully vaccinated or given booster shots.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has listed cough, fatigue, congestion and runny nose as some of the other symptoms of Omicron.
NHS doctor Dr Amir Khan even revealed the “clear sign” – very bad night sweats – caused by the Omicron variant.
The Omicron variant emerged in South Africa on November 24 and has since spread to more than 100 countries. It has led to a surge in Covid-19 infections in many regions and countries around the world, especially the United States and the United Kingdom.
Complete News Source : Hindustan Times
