Revolutionizing Brain Health: Drugs to Combat COVID-19 Induced Brain Fog
A groundbreaking study has brought hope in the fight against long-term neurological effects of COVID-19, particularly brain fog. Researchers at the University of Queensland’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) have discovered that COVID-19 accelerates the accumulation of 'zombie' cells - cells that have stopped dividing and contribute to cognitive impairments.
These senescent cells, which naturally increase with age, are known to drive tissue inflammation and degeneration, leading to brain fog and memory loss. The team, led by Julio Aguado, used lab-grown brain organoids and mice experiments to identify four drugs - navitoclax, ABT-737, fisetin, and a combination of dasatinib and quercetin - that selectively eliminate these cells.
The findings are significant, revealing that these drugs can reverse the premature aging of brain cells caused by COVID-19. This research not only sheds light on the neurological impacts of COVID-19 but also opens new avenues for treating other neurodegenerative diseases where senescence plays a role. The study, published in Nature Aging, marks a significant advancement in understanding the complex interplay between viral infections, aging, and neurological health.
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