By modifying brain structure, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and a brain injury can change behavior Now it appears that coronavirus can do the same.
We
discovered coronavirus targets not only the lungs but also the heart, brain,
and other key organs not long after the pandemic began.
The brain's
reaction was particularly perplexing.
Patients
with severe sadness, hallucinations, and paranoia would be admitted to the
hospital.
And in the
past year, an increasing number of people have had to deal with Long Covid
symptoms such as brain fog, anxiety, or sadness, inability to think clearly or
retain memories, and stumbling for words.
These psychological shifts, however, aren't exclusive to Covid.
Some Long
Covid symptoms are similar to those caused by numerous chronic brain and
personality-altering disorders, according to Maura Boldrini, a neuroscientist
and psychiatrist at Manhattan's Columbia University Irving Medical Centre.
All of these factors, according to Sharon Guynup, a science and environmental writer for National Geographic, can alter people's perceptions of the world, destabilize emotions, and weaken self-esteem and confidence.
It's unclear
what's going on in the brain, but researchers are more convinced that
inflammation plays a role.
A storm of
inflammatory cytokines may be triggered by Covid-19, producing an
overwhelming immunological reaction powerful enough to permanently damage or
destroy brain cells, resulting in a personality change.
So, what's going on inside your head?
The brain shrinks and a person's behavior becomes more chaotic, according to Boldrini, as nerve cells quit functioning and die.
The learning and memory capabilities of the brain begin to degrade when the number of neurons in the brain decreases.
Viruses have
been known to cause mayhem in the brain.
During the
HIV epidemic, I recall numerous acquaintances suffering from paranoia,
hallucinations, memory loss, and inability to concentrate.
Many of the
abnormalities observed in Long Covid are comparable to those identified in
people who have suffered traumatic brain injuries, concussions from a contact
sport, or who have served in the military.
Damage to the frontal lobes, which are located behind the brow, can affect executive functions such as planning, organizing, and multitasking.
Patients'
memory and self-awareness may deteriorate, and they may be unaware of what
they've lost.