Illustrationsbild: Maxime Anciaux/Belga
Apparently, the risk of Alzheimer’s increases significantly for older people following infection with the corona virus. Researchers from the University of Cleveland, Ohio found this out. They examined the health data of 6.2 million seniors, divided into two groups: those who had corona infection and those who did not have corona infection.
Within a year following infection, twice as many people over the age of 65 developed Alzheimer’s disease than in the control group. The risk increases with age, and the number of Alzheimer’s outbreaks was even higher among those over 85. The study was created by Case Western Reserve University. You can read regarding it in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.
Causal relationship not proven
The researchers cannot say for sure that the corona virus is responsible for Alzheimer’s disease. This is due to the fact that the causes of Alzheimer’s disease are still largely unclear.
There are two options here. First: The corona virus damages the central nervous system and thus causes the disease. Possibility two: The disease was already undetected and the coronavirus accelerated its outbreak. In both cases, however, the influence of Covid on Alzheimer’s might not be denied.
Consequences of new knowledge
First of all, this is an insight that might pose new problems for society. Because that would mean that in the wake of the corona pandemic, a wave of Alzheimer’s would roll towards us as a further long-term consequence.
With a sharp increase in Alzheimer’s cases, many more places in care facilities would be needed within a few years. So far there is no drug to cure Alzheimer’s disease. You would need a lot more staff that is not available at all, and with it a lot more money.
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