COVID-19 and the brain: a new study.
What the study looked at -
Researchers examined autopsies of 13 people who died with COVID-19 vs 23 controls.
Goal: to uncover what exactly happens inside the brain during COVID-19.🧵
What the study looked at -
Researchers examined autopsies of 13 people who died with COVID-19 vs 23 controls.
Goal: to uncover what exactly happens inside the brain during COVID-19.🧵
The central player - microglia.
Microglia = immune cells of the brain. Normally they protect, repair, and keep things in balance.
In COVID-19, they flip - from guardians to drivers of damage.
The worst effects were seen in the medulla oblongata - the brainstem region that controls breathing and circulation.
Microglia = immune cells of the brain. Normally they protect, repair, and keep things in balance.
In COVID-19, they flip - from guardians to drivers of damage.
The worst effects were seen in the medulla oblongata - the brainstem region that controls breathing and circulation.
Step by step, what happens
Loss of P2Y12 receptors - microglia can’t sense danger signals.
Activation of P2X7R + TLR3 - NLRP3 inflammasome - release of IL-1 and IL-6.
Blood–brain barrier (BBB) breaks down - immune cells infiltrate the brain.
Mitochondria in microglia collapse - leaking cytochrome c, triggering apoptosis.
Neurons and axons suffer - synapses are lost, myelin sheaths are destroyed.
Loss of P2Y12 receptors - microglia can’t sense danger signals.
Activation of P2X7R + TLR3 - NLRP3 inflammasome - release of IL-1 and IL-6.
Blood–brain barrier (BBB) breaks down - immune cells infiltrate the brain.
Mitochondria in microglia collapse - leaking cytochrome c, triggering apoptosis.
Neurons and axons suffer - synapses are lost, myelin sheaths are destroyed.
Molecular findings
RNA-seq - shifts in microglial activation, oligodendrocyte differentiation, synapse organization.
Proteomics - altered proteins that regulate core microglial signatures.
Growth factors VEGF and PDGF also implicated.
RNA-seq - shifts in microglial activation, oligodendrocyte differentiation, synapse organization.
Proteomics - altered proteins that regulate core microglial signatures.
Growth factors VEGF and PDGF also implicated.
Sum:
COVID-19 in the brain is not just inflammation.
It’s a chain reaction:
Microglial dysfunction.
Breakdown of blood vessels and BBB.
Cytokine storm (IL-1, IL-6).
Mitochondrial failure.
Loss of synapses and myelin.
All this hits hardest in the medulla oblongata - the area that keeps us alive
COVID-19 in the brain is not just inflammation.
It’s a chain reaction:
Microglial dysfunction.
Breakdown of blood vessels and BBB.
Cytokine storm (IL-1, IL-6).
Mitochondrial failure.
Loss of synapses and myelin.
All this hits hardest in the medulla oblongata - the area that keeps us alive
Illes at al., Focal neuropathologies in the brain of COVID-19-infected humans: inflammation, primary gliovascular failure and microglial dysfunction. nature.com/articles/s4139…
The hidden logic = viral proteins at work.
Spike (S) - activates TLRs, makes the BBB leaky - immune cell infiltration.
Nucleocapsid (N) - keeps NLRP3 + IL-1/IL-6 running - chronic neuroinflammation.
Envelope (E) - acts as a viroporin - ion imbalance - inflammasome + mitochondrial injury.
Mpro (main protease) - sabotages mitochondria & antiviral defenses - metabolic collapse, apoptosis.
Exactly matching the study’s cascade: microglia - BBB - cytokines - mitochondria - synapses/myelin - fatal failure of brainstem centers.
Spike (S) - activates TLRs, makes the BBB leaky - immune cell infiltration.
Nucleocapsid (N) - keeps NLRP3 + IL-1/IL-6 running - chronic neuroinflammation.
Envelope (E) - acts as a viroporin - ion imbalance - inflammasome + mitochondrial injury.
Mpro (main protease) - sabotages mitochondria & antiviral defenses - metabolic collapse, apoptosis.
Exactly matching the study’s cascade: microglia - BBB - cytokines - mitochondria - synapses/myelin - fatal failure of brainstem centers.
Plain language.
S (Spike) = the key that opens cells and inflammatory gates.
N (Nucleocapsid) = the engine of inflammation, keeping the fire burning.
E (Envelope) = the ion saboteur, wrecking balance inside cells and mitochondria.
Mpro (protease) = the enzyme manipulator, shutting down defenses and killing mitochondria.
Together they form a neurotoxic cocktail - explaining why COVID-19 can hit the brain so deeply and leave lasting scars.
S (Spike) = the key that opens cells and inflammatory gates.
N (Nucleocapsid) = the engine of inflammation, keeping the fire burning.
E (Envelope) = the ion saboteur, wrecking balance inside cells and mitochondria.
Mpro (protease) = the enzyme manipulator, shutting down defenses and killing mitochondria.
Together they form a neurotoxic cocktail - explaining why COVID-19 can hit the brain so deeply and leave lasting scars.
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