The relationship between COVID-19 and the onset of neurodegenerative disease: clinical case

Cover Page

Cite item

Full Text

Open Access Open Access
Restricted Access Access granted
Restricted Access Subscription or Fee Access

Abstract

In this article the relationship between COVID-19 and the onset of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease is observed. Possible mechanisms of pathogenesis are discussed: activation of microglia, formation of neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid plaques, which indicates a possible acceleration of pathological processes characteristic of neurodegenerative diseases. A review of the literature suggests that COVID-19 may act as a catalyst for the development or acceleration of neurodegenerative processes. The article presents a clinical observation of a patient admitted to the therapeutic department due to a hypertensive crisis, who developed mixed dementia after COVID-19 infection. The results of clinical and biochemical blood tests are within the reference values. On MRI of the brain – atrophy of the medial temporal lobe, signal changes in the basal ganglia, foci of vascular genesis. On EEG: Disorganized EEG type with dominance of slow activity in the theta rhythm range. Psychodiagnostics revealed cognitive decline to the level of moderate dementia (according to the MMSE scale – 13 scores). The importance of long-term monitoring of patients with post-COVID syndrome and the development of strategies for the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases in the context of the pandemic is emphasized.

Full Text

Restricted Access

About the authors

L. M. Mirzaeva

Mechnikov North-Western State Medical University

Author for correspondence.
Email: salud@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-9392-1789
SPIN-code: 5331-5670

Candidate of Medical Sciences

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

A. S. Lobzina

Mechnikov North-Western State Medical University

Email: salud@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-9048-6822
SPIN-code: 1811-7065

Candidate of Medical Sciences

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

V. V. Goldobin

Mechnikov North-Western State Medical University

Email: salud@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-9245-8067
SPIN-code: 4344-5782

MD, Professor

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

M. V. Yushko

Mechnikov North-Western State Medical University

Email: salud@yandex.ru
Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

P. D. Bubnova

Mechnikov North-Western State Medical University

Email: salud@yandex.ru
Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

M. Yu. Lalova

Mechnikov North-Western State Medical University

Email: salud@yandex.ru
Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

A. A. Zuev

Mechnikov North-Western State Medical University

Email: salud@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-6163-5718
SPIN-code: 4457-3510

Candidate of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

K. N. Akhmedova

Mechnikov North-Western State Medical University

Email: salud@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0007-0302-6694
SPIN-code: 2700-6702
Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

References

  1. Министерство здравоохранения России [Ministry of Health of Russia (in Russ.)]. URL: https://minzdrav.gov.ru/
  2. Wang Q., Davis P.B., Gurney M.E. et al. COVID-19 and dementia: Analyses of risk, disparity, and outcomes from electronic health records in the US. Alzheimers Dement. 2021; 17 (8): 1297–306. doi: 10.1002/alz.12296
  3. Информационное телеграфное агентство России (ТАСС) [Information Telegraph Agency of Russia (TASS) (in Russ.)]. URL: https://tass.ru/
  4. Лобзин В.Ю., Литвиненко И.В., Пушкарев В.А. Когнитивные нарушения у перенесших COVID-19: "туман в голове" или дебют нейродегенерации? Бюллетень Национального общества по изучению болезни Паркинсона и расстройств движений. 2022; 2: 138–40 [Lobzin V.Yu., Litvinenko I.V., Pushkarev V.A. Cognitive impairment in COVID-19 survivors: “brain fog” or the onset of neurodegeneration? Bulletin of the National Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorder Society. 2022; 2: 138–40 (in Russ.)]. doi: 10.24412/2226-079Х-2022-12452
  5. Кабыш С.С., Карпенкова А.Д., Прокопенко С.В. Когнитивные нарушения и COVID-19. Сибирское медицинское обозрение. 2022; 2: 40–8 [Kabysh S.S., Karpenkova A.D., Prokopenko S.V. Cognitive impairments and COVID-19. Siberian Medical Review. 2022; 2: 40–8 (in Russ.)]. doi: 10.20333/25000136-2022-2-40-48
  6. Современная тактика ведения пациентов с постковидным синдромом. Медицинский совет. 2022; 16 (6): 50–8 [A modern approach to the management of patients with post-COVID syndrome. Medical Council. 2022; 6: 50–8 (in Russ.)]. doi: 10.21518/2079-701X-2022-16-6-50-58
  7. Хасанова Д.Р., Житкова Ю.В., Васкаева Г.Р. Постковидный синдром: обзор знаний о патогенезе, нейропсихиатрических проявлениях и перспективах лечения. Неврология, нейропсихиатрия, психосоматика. 2021; 13 (3): 93–8 [Khasanova D.R., Zhitkova Yu.V., Vaskaeva G.R. Post-covid syndrome: a review of pathophysiology, neuropsychiatric manifestations and treatment perspectives. Neurology, Neuropsychiatry, Psychosomatics. 2021; 13 (3): 93–8 (in Russ.)]. doi: 10.14412/2074-2711-2021-3-93-98
  8. Васильев А.С., Шмырев В.И. Биомеханические аспекты патогенеза постковидного синдрома у взрослых. Кремлевская медицина. Клинический вестник. 2022; 1: 100–4 [Vasiliev A.S., Shmyrev V.I. Biomechanical aspects of posT-COVID-19 syndrome pathogenesis in adults. Kremlin Medicine Journal. 2022; 1: 100–4 (in Russ.)]. doi: 10.26269/wv8x-0364
  9. Коберская Н.Н., Рощин Ф.А. Болезнь Альцгеймера и COVID-19. Неврология, нейропсихиатрия, психосоматика. 2022; 14 (6): 89–97 [Koberskaya N.N., Roshchin F.A. Alzheimer's disease and COVID-19. Neurology, Neuropsychiatry, Psychosomatics. 2022; 14 (6): 89–97 (in Russ.)]. doi: 10.14412/2074-2711-2022-6-89-97
  10. Дедов Д.В. Новая коронавирусная инфекция: клинико-патогенетические аспекты, профилактика, значение витаминов и микроэлементов. Врач. 2022; 33 (2): 47–9 [Dedov D. New coronavirus infection: clinical and pathogenetic aspects, prophylaxis, importance of vitamins and microelements. Vrach. 2022; 33 (2): 47–9 (in Russ.)]. doi: 10.29296/25877305-2022-02-07
  11. Николенко В.Н., Ризаева Н.А., Булыгин К.В. и др.Роль оксидативного стресса в развитии болезни Альцгеймера. Неврология, нейропсихиатрия, психосоматика. 2022; 14 (4): 68–74 [Nikolenko V.N., Rizaeva N.A., Bulygin K.V. et al. The role of oxidative stress in the development of Alzheimer's disease. Neurology, Neuropsychiatry, Psychosomatics. 2022; 14 (4): 68–74 (in Russ.)]. doi: 10.14412/2074-2711-2022-4-68-74
  12. Zubair A.S., McAlpine L.S., Gardin T. et al. Neuropathogenesis and Neurologic Manifestations of the Coronaviruses in the Age of Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Review. JAMA Neurol. 2020; 77 (8): 18–27. doi: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2020.2065
  13. Huang P., Zhang L.Y., Tan Y.Y. et al. Links between COVID-19 and Parkinson’s disease/Alzheimer’s disease: reciprocal impacts, medical care strategies and underlying mechanisms. Transl Neurodegener. 2023; 12 (1): 5. doi: 10.1186/s40035-023-00337-1
  14. Боголепова А.Н. COVID-19 и болезнь Альцгеймера. Нервные болезни. 2021; 2: 8–12 [Bogolepova AN. COVID-19 and Alzheimer's disease. Nervous diseases. 2021; 2: 8–12 (in Russ.)]. doi: 10.24412/2226-0757-2021-12320
  15. Путилина М.В., Гришин Д.В. SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) как предиктор нейровоспаления и нейродегенерации: потенциальные стратегии терапии. Журнал неврологии и психиатрии им С.С. Корсакова. Спецвыпуски. 2020; 120 (8–2): 58–64 [Putilina M.V., Grishin D.V. SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) as a predictor of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration: potential therapy strategies. S.S. Korsakov Journal of Neurology and Psychiatry. 2020; 120 (8-2): 58–64 (in Russ.)]. doi: 10.17116/jnevro202012008258
  16. Mavrikaki M., Lee J.D., Solomon I.H. et al. Severe COVID-19 is associated with molecular signatures of aging in the human brain. Nat Aging. 2022; 2 (12): 1130–7. doi: 10.1038/s43587-022-00321-w
  17. Янишевский С.Н. COVID-19, цереброваскулярная патология и нейродегенерация. Основные закономерности и возможности терапии. Нервные болезни. 2022; 3: 16–23 [Yanishevsky S.N. COVID-19, cerebrovascular pathology and neurodegeneration. Basic patterns and possibilities of therapy. Nervous diseases. 2022; 3: 16–23 (in Russ.)]. doi: 10.24412/2226-0757-2022-12906
  18. Verkhratsky A., Li Q., Melino S. et al. Can COVID-19 pandemic boost the epidemic of neurodegenerative diseases? Biol Direct. 2020; 15 (1): 28. doi: 10.1186/s13062-020-00282-3
  19. Dewisme J., Lebouvier T., Vannod-Michel Q. et al. COVID-19 could worsen cerebral amyloid angiopathy. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 2023; 82 (9): 814–7. doi: 10.1093/jnen/nlad049
  20. Li C., Liu J., Lin J. et al. COVID-19 and risk of neurodegenerative disorders: A Mendelian randomization study. Transl Psychiatry. 2022; 12 (1): 283. doi: 10.1038/s41398-022-02052-3
  21. Alonso-Lana S., Marquié M., Ruiz A. et al. Cognitive and Neuropsychiatric Manifestations of COVID-19 and Effects on Elderly Individuals With Dementia. Front Aging Neurosci. 2020; 12: 588872. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2020.588872
  22. Saucier J., Comeau D., Robichaud G.A. et al. Reactive gliosis and neuroinflammation: prime suspects in the pathophysiology of post-acute neuroCOVID-19 syndrome. Front Neurol. 2023; 14: 1221266. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1221266
  23. Zhou Y., Xu J., Hou Y. et al. Network medicine links SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 infection to brain microvascular injury and neuroinflammation in dementia-like cognitive impairment. bioRxiv. 2021; 2021.03.15.435423. doi: 10.1101/2021.03.15.435423
  24. Wang C., Zhang M., Garcia G. et al. ApoE-Isoform-Dependent SARS-CoV-2 Neurotropism and Cellular Response. Cell Stem Cell. 2021; 28 (2): 331–342.e5. doi: 10.1016/j.stem.2020.12.018

Supplementary files

Supplementary Files
Action
1. JATS XML
Download
2. Fig. 1. MRI of the brain of patient A. (the circle indicates foci in the brain substance)

Download (68KB)
Indexing metadata
3. Fig. 2. MRI of the brain of patient A. (the circle indicates signal changes in the basal ganglia area, arrows indicate areas of cortical atrophy)

Download (46KB)
Indexing metadata

Copyright (c) 2025 Russkiy Vrach Publishing House