COVID-19 Spike Protein May Directly Damage Brain Function, Korean Study Finds (Image courtesy of Pixabay/CCL)
SEOUL, Dec. 11 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean health authorities said Wednesday that COVID-19 may directly impair brain function and lead to concentration and memory loss, offering new scientific evidence behind persistent cognitive symptoms reported by many patients after infection.
In a study released by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) and its National Institute of Health, researchers found that exposure to the coronavirus spike protein (S1) disrupted neural communication and memory formation in animal models.
When the protein was administered intranasally to laboratory mice, the animals took longer to locate a hidden platform in water-maze tests, a standard measure of learning and spatial memory. They also showed increased anxiety-related behaviors in unfamiliar environments — patterns that mirror cognitive decline observed in humans following COVID-19 infection.
Researchers found that the spike protein reached the brain and interfered with synaptic function by suppressing expression of NMDA receptors, which are essential for memory processing. Six weeks after exposure, the hippocampus — the brain region responsible for learning — showed a reduction in nerve cell counts.
Pedestrians wear masks in Seoul on Aug. 19, 2024, amid the resurgence of COVID-19 infections in the country. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
The mice also exhibited increased accumulation of tau and alpha-synuclein, toxic proteins associated with neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, raising concerns about the potential for long-term brain damage.
However, researchers said the diabetes medication metformin helped reverse the damage when administered under the same experimental conditions. Metformin both restored neuronal function and reduced the buildup of toxic proteins, suggesting a possible therapeutic avenue for long-COVID cognitive symptoms.
“This study identifies the pathological mechanism behind cognitive dysfunction after COVID-19 and shows that metformin may help suppress these effects,” said senior researcher Ko Young-ho of the National Institute of Health. “Clinical studies will be needed to determine whether metformin can be used to treat long-term concentration and memory decline linked to COVID-19.”
KDCA Commissioner Im Seung-kwan said the agency will continue to support research into prolonged post-COVID symptoms to inform evidence-based infectious-disease policy and treatment strategies.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
