This photo shows a disinfection worker at a nursing hospital in the southern port city of Busan on Oct. 14, 2020. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Nov. 9 (Korea Bizwire) — A recent study has revealed that the prolonged spread of COVID-19 has left patients suffering from cognitive disorders such as dementia physically and socially more vulnerable.
A research team from the Seoul National University Bundang Hospital stressed in a report that elderly people with cognitive disorders have a higher risk of being infected by COVID-19 than other adults for various reasons.
The research confirmed that the infection of COVID-19 is associated with the AopE gene variant that is discovered in those who are vulnerable to Alzheimer’s disease.
The research team noted that the ApoE e4 gene aggravates the inflammation of nerve cells, raising the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
According to a UK study that was conducted with 451,367 patients, those with the ApoE e4e4 gene variant are 2.3 to 4 times more likely to test positive for COVID-19 than others.
The research team also found that physical social distancing measures designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 prevents dementia patients from having the chance to improve their cognitive disorders.
In other words, dementia patients could have difficulty understanding and following the new disinfection principles.
Since they often forget about the need to wear a mask or observe social distancing rules, individuals with cognitive disorders are exposed to COVID-19 more easily than others.
J. S. Shin (js_shin@koreabizwire.com)
