Blood-Brain barrier disruption in long COVID and cognitive correlates: A cross-sectional MRI study

[SWAlexander]

Highlights​

• •
  Blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption may underlie neuropsychiatric symptoms in Long COVID (LC).
• •
  Non-contrast MRI technique reveals higher BBB permeability in LC vs. recovered controls.
• •
  Higher BBB permeability was significantly associated with poorer motor function, but not other cognitive domains.
• •
  Findings indicate persistent BBB disruptions two + years post-infection in LC.
• •
  BBB integrity may be a biomarker of motor dysfunction in LC.

Disruption of the blood brain barrier (BBB) is common in neurotropic viral infections, including coronaviruses. The BBB, formed by vascular endothelial and other supporting cells, functions to regulate blood–brain exchange of substances and protect the central nervous system (CNS) from peripheral immune response, neurotoxins, and pathogens.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0889159125002934

What should we expect—an increase in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, or perhaps even cases of Lewy Body dementia?