“ Brain fog ” has emerge as one of the most unremarkably reported symptom thatcontinues to hang around longafter go back from COVID-19 . Characterized as a “ fuzzy ” feeling of mild confusion , headaches , and short - term remembering loss , the cause of thislurking side - effectdefied a solid explanation for some time , but a new study in malignant neoplastic disease patient argue it has found a likely culprit : incitive particles in the liquidness surrounding the brain and spinal corduroy , the cerebrospinal fluid .
As per the newfangled research , reported in the journalCancer Cell , investigator fromMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center ( MSK ) in New York City details 18cancer patientswho were hospitalized with COVID-19 and live wicked neurologic job . All the patients were given a range of brain scans , such as MRIs , computed tomography , and electroencephalogram ( EEG ) monitoring , while 13 of the patients get a spinal tapto obtain a sample of cerebrospinal fluid .
They foundthat the patients continue to have mellow levels of cytokines , signaling moleculessecreted from resistant cell that areinvolved in inflammation , in their cerebrospinal fluid weeks after their initial contagion .
" We ground that these patients had persistent lighting and high levels of cytokines in their cerebrospinal fluid , which explained the symptom they were hold , " Dr Jan Remsik , the paper ’s co - first source , said in astatement .
The research worker note that the patterns of inflammation in cancer affected role with COVID-19 are comparable to those seen in non - infected people who have received gondola T cadre therapy , a cancer therapy thatcauses immune mobile phone to pump out cytokine . People withCAR T cell therapy also incline to feel delay neurological effects , just like some people with COVID-19 .
The virus itself , however , was not regain in the cerebrospinal fluid and the brain scans did not show anything of much significance . Some theory about brain fog had suggested that the neurological symptom of COVID-19 were because of SARS - CoV-2 attack the brain directly . While there is some evidence thevirus can infiltrate the brainin some gravely ill patients , this new research suggest that this is n’t needs the campaign of mentality fog in most people .
However , the mien of cytokines in the cerebrospinal fluid does point thatimmune cell are able to cross the rake - Einstein barrier and enter the central nervous system , which the researchers say could put up some insights into how cancer cells spread to the wit .
" We used to call up that the spooky system was an immune - privilege reed organ , meaning that it did n’t have any variety of relationship at all with the resistant system . But the more we front , the more we find connections between the two , " added Adrienne Boire , discipline writer , and doctor - scientist at MSK .
It ’s worth considering that cancer patients , in particular , are at heightened risk of grave infections from COVID-19 because of their immunocompromised state of matter and the findings might not necessarily translate to the wide population . Nevertheless , the investigator argue that their findings do disgorge some lighter on the wider number of brain fog and propose that anti - inflammatory drugs and treatment , such as steroid hormone , may help within the “ management of neurologic complications of COVID-19 infection . ”
