COVID-19 and its Impact on Brain Health: Understanding Accelerated Aging
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Science & Technology (Health & Diseases - COVID-19 and its long-term effects; Human Biology - Brain, Immune System, Blood-Brain Barrier).
Mains:
GS Paper 3: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life; Awareness in the fields of Bio-technology.
GS Paper 2: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health.
Key Highlights from the News
Main finding: New studies have found that the COVID-19 pandemic (viral infection and the psychological stress it caused) accelerates the brain's aging process (accelerated brain aging).
Reasons (a "double blow"):
Direct viral attack: SARS-CoV-2 is a neurotropic virus. This means it can directly attack and damage brain cells.
Indirect impact: The psychological stress and social isolation caused by the pandemic adversely affected brain health.
Impact on Long COVID:
Symptoms of slowed brain function such as brain fog, memory loss, and difficulty concentrating are widely observed in those with Long COVID.
Science behind the damage:
Inflammation: The virus causes inflammation throughout the body, including the brain.
Blood-Brain Barrier breakdown: This protective layer that safeguards the brain gets damaged.
Oxygen deprivation: COVID infection reduces the amount of oxygen supplied to the brain.
Long-term impact: In those with less severe illness, brain-related symptoms improve over time. However, studies show that problems persist for years in those who were hospitalized.
Hope: It is hoped that innovative treatment methods such as Integrative neurorehabilitation can help reverse these effects to some extent.
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