The influence of COVID-19 on the brain has indeed been proven, but this does not mean at all that every sick person can develop schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease, psychiatrist, narcologist Igor Lazarev told the VZGLYAD newspaper. For them to appear, a person must have a predisposition.
Brazilian scientists found outthat COVID-19 attacks the cells of the central nervous system, causing damage to the cerebral cortex. According to them, this can lead to manifestations of schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. At the same time, experts clarify that such changes were noticed in patients suffering from the disease, both with complications and in a mild form.
“Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness. First, the etiology (cause, effect) is not fully known. There are many factors: genetics, stress, upbringing – they play the role of a person’s predisposition, and whether it already occurs or not, it also depends on factors (stress, drugs, and so on). Moreover, this disease is serious, after 10-15 years, after its manifestation, you can get a disability, ”says Lazarev.
He says that a person is recognized as incapacitated because he develops apato-abulic syndrome due to schizophrenia. That is, he loses motive in activity, actions become passive, and emotional-volitional impoverishment is observed (a property that characterizes the content, quality and dynamics of emotions and feelings). Also during schizophrenia, symptoms are observed in the form of delirium and hallucinations.
“But it still starts and ends at an early age. Most often up to 30 years old. Alzheimer’s disease refers to neurodegenerative diseases, that is, it manifests itself mainly at a later age. But unlike dementia (acquired dementia), which manifests itself in old age, Alzheimer’s happens, and starts at 65, ”says Lazarev.
The main symptoms of such a disease are impaired memory, attention, thinking, disorientation, and so on, the interlocutor continues. At the moment, there is no cure – as long as there are only drugs that do not allow the disease to progress, but do not cure it.
The doctor notes that it is not yet possible to cure schizophrenia either – doctors are only able to stop the symptoms. That is, drugs are prescribed that remove delusions, hallucinations, and improve social adaptation.
“Parkinson’s is also a neurodegenerative disease, but it is more neurological. There are mental symptoms, but the extrapyramidal system (a set of brain structures that is responsible for movement) suffers more. The main symptoms are tremors (movements of various parts of the body by the type of tremors that occur independently of the will of a person), gait disturbance. ”
He explains that cognitive impairments (memory, attention) also occur in Parkinson’s, but less frequently than limb tremors. The doctor also notes that in schizophrenia, parkinson-like symptoms are sometimes observed, but this should not be confused with the disease itself.
“COVID-19, of course, can trigger the onset of schizophrenia at some vulnerable age, because its effect on the brain has indeed been proven. But there is research that the flu can do the same thing. In other words, if there is any serious predisposition, then the emergence of schizophrenia or other diseases is not excluded, but, in my opinion, it is too early to draw any definite conclusions, “Lazarev said.
The doctor also draws attention to the fact that when you get a coronavirus infection, you should not immediately get scared and try on all these diseases. If you suspect, you should immediately contact a specialist who will just make the appropriate diagnosis.
Former head of Rospotrebnadzor Anna Popova toldthat in Russia most of the cases of coronavirus infection are in the age group from 30 to 60 years. According to her, they are mainly employees of offices and state administration structures.
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