Alzheimer's disease in elderly COVID-19 patients: potential mechanisms and preventive measures.
Neurol Sci
; 42(12): 4913-4920, 2021 Dec.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34550494
ABSTRACT
Advanced age correlates with higher morbidity and mortality among patients affected with the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Because systemic inflammation and neurological symptoms are also common in severe COVID-19 cases, there is concern that COVID-19 may lead to neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this review, we summarize possible mechanisms by which infection with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of COVID-19, may cause AD in elderly COVID-19 patients and describe preventive measures to mitigate risk. Potential mechanisms include NLRP3 inflammasome activation and IL-1ß release, renin-angiotensin system hyperactivation, innate immune activation, oxidative stress, direct viral infection, and direct cytolytic ß-cell damage. Anti-inflammatory therapies, including TNF-α inhibitors and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antioxidants such as the vitamin E family, nutritional intervention, physical activity, blood glucose control, and vaccination are proposed as preventive measures to minimize AD risk in COVID-19 patients. Since several risk factors for AD may converge during severe SARS-CoV-2 infection, neurologists should be alert for potential symptoms of AD and actively implement preventive measures in patients presenting with neuropsychiatric symptoms and in high-risk patients such as the elderly.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Doença de Alzheimer
/
COVID-19
Tipo de estudo:
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Aged
/
Humans
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2021
Tipo de documento:
Article