Alzheimer's disease in elderly COVID-19 patients: potential mechanisms and preventive measures.
Neurol Sci
; 42(12): 4913-4920, 2021 Dec.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1432553
ABSTRACT
Advanced age correlates with higher morbidity and mortality among patients affected with the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Because systemic inflammation and neurological symptoms are also common in severe COVID-19 cases, there is concern that COVID-19 may lead to neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this review, we summarize possible mechanisms by which infection with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of COVID-19, may cause AD in elderly COVID-19 patients and describe preventive measures to mitigate risk. Potential mechanisms include NLRP3 inflammasome activation and IL-1ß release, renin-angiotensin system hyperactivation, innate immune activation, oxidative stress, direct viral infection, and direct cytolytic ß-cell damage. Anti-inflammatory therapies, including TNF-α inhibitors and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antioxidants such as the vitamin E family, nutritional intervention, physical activity, blood glucose control, and vaccination are proposed as preventive measures to minimize AD risk in COVID-19 patients. Since several risk factors for AD may converge during severe SARS-CoV-2 infection, neurologists should be alert for potential symptoms of AD and actively implement preventive measures in patients presenting with neuropsychiatric symptoms and in high-risk patients such as the elderly.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Alzheimer Disease
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Topics:
Long Covid
/
Vaccines
Limits:
Aged
/
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Neurol Sci
Journal subject:
Neurology
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S10072-021-05616-1
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