A current, large-scale study from Denmark shows how Covid-19 affects the incidence of neurological diseases. According to the study, Covid-19 patients have a higher risk of Alzheimer's than people who were Corona-negative.
The study on the long-term effects of COVID-19 analyzed the electronic health records of nearly 920,000 Danish men and women aged 18 and over, living in the region around the capital Copenhagen and in the region of Zealand. During the study period from February 2018 to November 2021, 43,375 people tested positive.
Diverse neurological disorders
The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of Covid-19 on neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's dementia, Parkinson's disease, and stroke. The statistical analyses showed: Compared to people who tested negative, Covid-19 positive patients had a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's both six and 12 months after a positive test result. For example, the disease occurred 3.4 times more often after 12 months. The researchers arrived at similar results when comparing other neurological diseases. The risk of developing Parkinson's, for example, was 2.2 times higher. People who contracted Covid-19 also more frequently suffered from a so-called ischemic stroke compared to the frequency caused by a lack of blood flow.
Delirium can be a trigger
„Notably, COVID-19-positive individuals were more likely to experience delirium, an independent risk factor for dementia, compared to COVID-negative individuals,“ the scientists write. They also concluded: Fatigue, depression, and anxiety following a COVID-19 infection can also contribute to the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Influenza and bacterial pneumonia also increase the risk of severe neurological sequelae.
Here is the link to the study:
Frequency of Neurological Diseases After COVID-19, Influenza A/B, and Bacterial Pneumonia.
