In a recent study, a significant connection has emerged between COVID-19 and neurodegenerative disorders, particularly prion diseases, which are known for their rapid cognitive decline. Researchers from Mount Sinai Queens Hospital Centre in New York have reported the case of a 62-year-old man in the United States whose brain disease has been linked to the COVID-19 virus. This groundbreaking revelation has been published in the American Journal of Case Reports.
The patient initially sought medical attention after experiencing bradykinesia (slowness of movement), drooling, dementia, and an inability to walk. Additionally, he displayed confabulation, a neuropsychiatric disorder involving the creation of false memories without deceit. He tested positive for the virus despite being asymptomatic for typical respiratory Covid-19 symptoms.
Although initial brain MRI results provided limited insights, clinical suspicion prompted the medical team to order a CSF protein 14-3-3 test for COVID-19, which returned a positive result. Following his COVID-19 diagnosis, the patient's neurological condition rapidly deteriorated, meeting the probable diagnostic criteria for Prion Disease (PrD). Tragically, the patient's condition worsened, leading to his demise six weeks after admission.
This study underscores a concerning association between COVID-19 and neurodegenerative diseases, emphasizing that various pathogenic illnesses can trigger neurodegenerative disorders, with prion diseases being a prime example. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) categorizes prion diseases as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), insidious afflictions affecting both humans and animals.