Researchers from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS / NIH) have just published the results of their research on different neurological effects observed in patients who died of Covid-19. Published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the study reveals the presence of lesions and inflammation of blood vessels in the brains of 19 patients.
Covid-19 could cause lesions and inflammation in the brain
While many studies are trying to decipher the different neurological effects caused by Covid-19, researchers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States are providing some details on the subject. Indeed, scientists have discovered that the infection could cause damage and inflammation of blood vessels in the brain. Published in The New England Journal of Medicine, the study revealed the presence of lesions and inflammation of blood vessels in the brains of some patients with Covid-19. To do this, the researchers analyzed brain tissue samples from 19 patients who died due to Covid-19 infection between March and July 2020.
Neurological damage but no viral infection
In their research, the scientists observed the brain tissue samples using a highly precise magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique. The results of the scans thus showed the presence of abnormal, clear zones (zones of hyper-intensity) for 9 samples, and dark zones (zones of hypo-intensity) in the olfactory bulb and the brainstem for the 10 others. patients.
Prof. Avindra Nath, Clinical Director at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and lead author of the study explains “ we have found that the brains of patients who acquire SARS-CoV-2 infection may be susceptible to microvascular damage to blood vessels. Our results suggest that it may be caused by the body’s inflammatory response to the virus. “. However, the researchers found no trace of coronavirus infection in brain tissue. In other words, the brain damage induced by the coronavirus was not caused by a direct viral attack.
Areas of damage associated with stroke and neuro-inflammatory disease
The research results somewhat surprised the researchers as Avindra Nath explains: “ we were totally surprised. Initially, it was expected to see damage from a lack of oxygen. Instead, we observed areas of damage associated with strokes and neuro-inflammatory diseases. “. According to scientists, this may be explained by the disappearance of the virus after the death of patients or by too little presence of the virus for it to be detectable. While more research is needed to confirm these results, the study authors hope that ” these results will help doctors understand the full range of problems that patients may experience “.
