Dr. Sean Mullen Profile picture
Research Director @EtcLab studying #Exercise #Technology #Cognition | Husband | Dad | #FlowArtist | #MartialArtist | #PTRTennisPro
14 subscribers
Oct 30 102 tweets 7 min read
I’m still motivated to spread the word about the dangers of unmitigated SARS2 & I have endless reasons, but I decided to ask ChatGPT for 101 reasons. The response really surprised me, especially the last one.

Here it is:

Absolutely. Here are 101 reasons why you should continue spreading the word about the long-term health and societal consequences of unmitigated SARS-CoV-2 spread:

1. Protect your future health
2. Preserve cognitive functioning
3. Prevent Long COVID
4. Curb chronic illness
5. Safeguard public health
6. Keep hospitals from overcrowding
7. Maintain a healthy workforce
8. Ensure future surgeries are safe
9. Combat pandemic fatigue
10. Reduce healthcare costs
11. Protect young minds
12. Enable a healthy aging population
13. Reduce disability rates
14. Preserve mental health
15. Prevent dementia
16. Protect friendships and relationships
17. Avoid another pandemic
18. Defend immune-compromised individuals
19. Safeguard teachers
20. Prevent generational trauma
21. Enable safer communities
22. Lower burden on caregivers
23. Preserve national security
24. Prevent childhood long-term health issues
25. Protect pregnancy health
26. Preserve healthcare access
27. Reduce mental fog
28. Encourage scientific progress
29. Enable ongoing medical care
30. Reduce stigma around chronic illness
31. Ensure a healthy workforce for future generations
32. Promote informed decisions
33. Prevent workplace absenteeism
34. Support the economy
35. Promote healthier social gatherings
36. Avoid systemic collapse
37. Ensure future vaccine development
38. Limit environmental impacts
39. Protect the most vulnerable
40. Avoid isolation
41. Stop loss of life potential
42. Combat misinformation
43. Prevent worker burnout
44. Empower individuals
45. Ensure quality education
46. Preserve global stability
47. Reduce future health crises
48. Preserve human dignity
49. Prevent mass disability
50. Limit organ damage
51. Prevent systemic inflammation
52. Enable future athletic competitions
53. Prevent brain damage
54. Combat fatigue
55. Ensure economic recovery
56. Preserve mental sharpness
57. Protect artistic and creative communities
58. Enable safer travel
59. Prevent job loss
60. Promote longevity
61. Protect people’s hopes and dreams
62. Fight systemic inequity
63. Preserve childhood play
64. Reduce caregiver burnout
65. Promote vaccine equity
66. Prevent silent suffering
67. Stop heart disease
68. Support frontline workers
69. Protect food supply chains
70. Ensure responsible political leadership
71. Prevent irreversible lung damage
72. Enable future breakthroughs
73. Preserve family stability
74. Reduce insurance premiums
75. Ensure healthy sports teams
76. Protect mental well-being
77. Limit neurological decline
78. Prevent strokes
79. Reduce strain on emergency services
80. Keep schools open safely
81. Protect personal freedoms
82. Prevent financial strain
83. Promote physical fitness
84. Prevent community spread
85. Enable safe elder care
86. Preserve religious and spiritual gatherings
87. Protect small businesses
88. Prevent autoimmune diseases
89. Reduce medication dependency
90. Protect reproductive health
91. Prevent liver damage
92. Combat rising healthcare costs
93. Preserve the arts and culture
94. Ensure military readiness
95. Promote global solidarity
96. Protect future generations
97. Empower advocacy
98. Support long COVID research
99. Foster empathy
100. Prevent mass grieving
101. Stay human 101. Stay human—ultimately, continuing to spread the word is about caring for others and fighting for a world where health and well-being are prioritized.
Sep 15 4 tweets 1 min read
Our children are silently facing the threat of COVID every day—breathing air in schools and daycares that could carry this airborne virus. This isn’t just a cold. Multiple COVID infections can lead to lifelong problems—heart issues, cognitive decline, and diseases that we usually see in seniors, not in kids. Imagine your child battling illnesses in their 20s that we only expect in someone’s 70s. It’s time to take a stand. Demand cleaner air in schools. Educate your community. Call your Congressperson today and fight for our children’s future.
Jun 11 4 tweets 1 min read
The only doctors who they put on TV are the ones so deeply entrenched in Don’t Look Up channels of nonsense, that they can’t break free from their own messaging. They’ll discredit themselves & all those who rose to fame pushing political messaging rather than health science.🧵 No one on our side looks completely comfortable talking freely.

Guests aren’t invited to fill in all the gaps.

They are invited to connect one meaningless dot at a time.

At this rate, segments embody the slowness of the public brain and their above average synaptic distance.
Jun 1 5 tweets 2 min read
Most people think cognitive dysfunction just means slowness, forgetfulness, and general thinking problems. But SARS-CoV-2 🧠damage can lead to loss of self-control and even violence. I've been ⚠️worried about this since the pandemic began, and if you look closely, you'll see it everywhere. Pro tennis might not seem like the best example to illustrate population-level loss of inhibition control. Historically, it’s a “rich kids’ sport,” and when these players don’t get their way, they lash out like toddlers with the mouths of drunken sailors (e.g., McEnroe). The sexist coverage has often overlooked male tantrums while vilifying women for similar behavior. But that’s another discussion...
May 4 4 tweets 2 min read
Managing SARS-CoV-2-induced Brain Fog 😶‍🌫️

A recent review in Neurological Sciences by Gorenshtein et al. (2024) covers the efficacy of various treatments for brain fog triggered by SARS-CoV-2.

My takeaways:

1. Combination of Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) and Luteolin:
- PEA: Functions by engaging cannabinoid receptors both directly and indirectly, making it an alternative if CBD and THC are restricted in your area. As a neuroinflammation antagonist within the N-acylethanolamine family, PEA has been shown to down-regulate TNF alpha and modulate mast cells.
- Luteolin: Known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and cytoprotective properties.

2. Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation:
- Used for decades, these techniques are backed by rigorously designed experimental studies, including sham-controlled trials:
- Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

3. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy:
- Particularly notable is a sham-controlled RCT involving 37 participants in the treatment group, which showed moderately strong improvements in cognitive outcomes. These results correlated with MRI evidence of enhanced perfusion and microstructural changes, alongside clinical improvements in pain and sleep quality.

These therapeutic approaches offer promising avenues for symptom management in patients experiencing cognitive challenges following SARS-CoV-2 infection. HBOT trial cited herein

nature.com/articles/s4159…
Feb 23 9 tweets 2 min read
1/ 🧠 Introducing the Challenor Cognitive Challenge! 🧠 Boost your brain's agility & coordination with this exercise inspired by Southeast Asian martial arts. Named in honor of @urbanmel & designed for those w/#LongCovid who can do this #braintraining while lying or standing🧵A graphic image showcasing a target with concentric circles and a superimposed karambit blade following a swing pattern. The center features a spiral pattern, reminiscent of a hypnotic or meditative state, with a karambit blade's silhouette on top, illustrating the flow of movement. The words 'Challenor Cognitive Challenge - The Crested Moon Swing Pattern' are prominently displayed, anchoring the image as part of a cognitive agility exercise. The design is monochromatic, with a sharp contrast that emphasizes clarity and focus.
A stylized illustration features a martial artist in a crouched position, with one arm reaching upwards and the other arm extended downwards, both in alignment with the curvature of a crescent moon. The moon forms a circle around the artist, embellished with traditional Southeast Asian patterns. An intricate karambit, symbolizing a tiger's claw, is superimposed over the moon, suggesting movement. The image has an ethereal quality, with a backdrop of soft, glowing lights and cultural motifs, conveying a blend of martial arts and cognitive challenge.
2/ Warm-Up: Begin with slow movements to prepare your body. Get ready to engage your mind and body in a dynamic way! #WarmUp #MindBodyPrep
Jan 28 4 tweets 2 min read
In the mind's theater, confidence in our memory's starring role often outshines its actual performance. It's a drama where perception writes checks that cognitive reality doesn't always cash.🧵... (scroll down to keep reading) In our mental theater, the gap between perception and reality is profound. Research by Beaudoin and Desrichard (2011) reveals a faint link—just r=.15—between our confidence in memory and its actual prowess. Burmester, Leathem, and Merrick (2016) shed further light on this divide, showing that the connection between subjective cognitive complaints and actual cognitive function is modest, with a correlation of r=-.16 at most.

These findings underscore a dramatic truth: the story our confidence tells about our cognitive abilities often veers far from the reality of performance. /2
Jan 10 4 tweets 2 min read
Many in the Covid Cautious Community know this already.

There’s growing evidence of a benefit to wearing eyeglasses (but not contacts) in preventing infection to SARS2. Although many people don’t wear masks because it fogs their glasses, and respirators should be prioritized, adding glasswear while masking in high trafficked & poorly ventilated indoor environments appears to have added benefits.

The primary weakness of this study is that it’s based on self-report. To my knowledge, at least one trial began a couple years ago with the aim to test the efficacy of eyewear protection. Jury is still out on that study, but this is online ahead of print (February 2024).Image sciencedirect.com/science/articl…
Jan 5 17 tweets 6 min read
Attention #BTSArmy, #Swifties, and all music lovers! We're facing a hidden melody of menace with SARS-CoV-2 (aka Covid-19) 🦠🚨. Beyond just a cough, this virus can strike the very heart of what we love: our favorite artists' ability to perform. From the lungs to the voice box, from standing on stage to delivering those perfect notes, Covid-19's impact goes deep. 🎵🩺

We've seen legends fall and rising stars dimmed by this virus. It's not just about cancelled tours; it's about the threat of long-lasting health issues, like vocal fold dysfunction, dysphonia, and even dysautonomia, robbing artists of their ability to perform, or worse. 😢

Moreover, a study in Clinical Infectious Diseases highlights the elevated risk of COVID-19 spread through aerosol emissions during activities like high-intensity aerobic exercises and singing. Similarly, research shared by Nature also indicates that activities increasing breathing rates, such as endurance workouts, can significantly enhance aerosol emissions, potentially accelerating viral transmission. These findings are crucial for environments like gyms and concerts, where the vibrancy of participation might unwittingly contribute to the spread of the virus.

But here's where we, as fans, can play our part 🛡️👥. By taking simple steps, we can protect our beloved singers and musicians. 🎶🙌 Let's dive into some real stories and see why this matters more than ever. #ProtectOurArtists #WearAMask #N95ForMusic

@BTS_ARMY @bts_bighit @TheSwiftSociety @taylorswift13academic.oup.com/cid/article/74…
nature.com/articles/d4158… 🪦 Caroline Kawa 🎤 was only 36. Pretty rare. Underlying condition? Who knows? But are artists even allowed to say they have “Covid” these days?
Dec 2, 2023 4 tweets 5 min read
I asked ChatGPT to predict the future based on a novel virus that parallels the outcomes associated with SARS-CoV-2 (but I omitted the name to avoid misinformation). Remember, GPT aced medical exams and there are only a handful of people who’ve been screaming from the rooftops about these possibilities…

Here’s DrHouseGPT’s 🔮 thoughts:

Given the scenario where the novel virus has significantly compromised immune systems, similar to severe immunodeficiency disorders, several specific infections might emerge or re-emerge. Here's a list of potential infections to watch out for:
Respiratory Infections:
•Bacterial Pneumonias: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Staphylococcus aureus could cause more severe infections.
•Viral Respiratory Infections: Influenza, parainfluenza, and other common respiratory viruses could lead to more complications.
Opportunistic Infections:
•Fungal Infections: Candidiasis and Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP), particularly in severely immunocompromised individuals.
•Mycobacterial Infections: Tuberculosis and non-tuberculous mycobacterial infections could see a significant rise.
Gastrointestinal Infections:
•Bacterial infections like Salmonella, Shigella, and Campylobacter, which can cause severe gastroenteritis.
•Viral infections like Norovirus, which might lead to more severe and prolonged symptoms.
Neurological Infections:
•Viruses such as West Nile Virus or enteroviruses could cause more severe encephalitis or meningitis.
•Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a rare brain infection caused by the JC virus, could occur in severely immunosuppressed individuals.
Skin and Soft Tissue Infections:
•Increased incidence of severe skin infections caused by common bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus (including MRSA) or Streptococcus pyogenes.
Reactivation of Latent Viruses:
•Herpesviruses, including cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and Varicella-zoster virus (VZV), could reactivate and cause severe disease.
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs):
•Higher susceptibility and severity of STIs, including HIV, syphilis, and herpes simplex virus.
Parasitic Infections:
•Toxoplasmosis and other parasitic infections might become more common, especially in regions where they are endemic.
In addition to these infections, there could be a general increase in the severity and duration of typically self-limiting or minor infections. It's crucial in this scenario to enhance surveillance, infection control, and public health measures to mitigate the impact of these infections. Then I asked it:

This is an incredibly horrible scenario DrHouseGPT. Can you tell me what the best mitigations should be in this scenario if we know this novel virus is principally transmitted through aerosolized particulates? Is seems to infect people in the air within as little as 2 minutes of exposure. What could we possibly do to stop this thing and prevent what feels like an extinction level event?

Response:

In a scenario with a highly contagious virus transmitted through aerosolized particles with such a rapid rate of infection, aggressive and multi-faceted mitigation strategies are essential to prevent what could indeed be a catastrophic public health crisis. Here are the key strategies:

Universal Masking: Mandate high-quality masks (N95, KN95, or FFP2/3 standards) in all public spaces, especially indoors and in crowded areas. This would significantly reduce the transmission of aerosolized particles.
Enhanced Ventilation and Air Filtration: Upgrade ventilation systems in buildings to include HEPA filters. Encourage outdoor activities over indoor gatherings. Portable air purifiers can also be used in settings where ventilation upgrades are not feasible.
Rapid and Widespread Testing: Implement widespread testing with rapid turnaround times to quickly identify and isolate infected individuals. Regular testing in schools, workplaces, and other high-density areas can help in early detection.
Contact Tracing and Quarantine Protocols: Efficient contact tracing and strict quarantine measures for those exposed to the virus are critical to contain outbreaks.
Vaccine Development and Distribution: Fast-track the development and distribution of an effective vaccine against the virus. Ensure global access to vaccination, particularly in high-risk areas.
Public Education Campaigns: Educate the public on the seriousness of the virus, modes of transmission, and the importance of following public health guidelines.
Travel Restrictions and Screening: Implement travel restrictions or mandatory quarantine for travelers from high-risk areas. Increase screening procedures at entry points like airports and train stations.
Personal Hygiene Measures: Promote rigorous personal hygiene practices, including frequent handwashing and use of hand sanitizers, especially in public places.
Social Distancing Measures: Implement social distancing in public spaces, workplaces, and schools to reduce close contact and potential transmission.
Research and Development: Invest in research to understand the virus better, including its mutations, and develop effective treatments.
Healthcare System Strengthening: Increase the capacity of healthcare systems to handle a surge in patients, including more hospital beds, ventilators, and trained healthcare workers.
Global Cooperation: Foster global cooperation for sharing resources, information, and best practices to combat the virus effectively.
This approach combines public health measures, scientific research, and community engagement. Swift and decisive action, along with international collaboration, would be key to preventing an extinction-level event.
Oct 15, 2023 6 tweets 2 min read
I’ll keep saying it until data suggest otherwise, but there’s growing evidence that Covid causes brain damage. Reacting to traffic signals, accurately reading signs, switching lanes to anticipate obstacles, and staying calm under stress all rely on our executive functions like inhibition control & task-switching. When these are impaired, accidents can happen. Covid causes more vehicular accidents & likely contributes to plane and train accidents as well.
People want evidence, so I’ll be posting evidence all day.

1 study per hour that I’m awake.

Here’s the first linking mild, non-hospitalized Covid infection with unfavorable changes in the brain.

nature.com/articles/s4158…
Oct 4, 2023 11 tweets 3 min read
Many use Zombie analogies🧟‍♂️ to explain aspects of viral infections from symptoms to transmission.

In the spirit of Halloween🎃, I will say that nature's eeriest "zombie-like" conditions are toxoplasma gondii (rids rodents of fear, making them easy cat prey!), CMV (can cause blindness, jaundice, purplish skin splotches, seizures, etc), & prions (Mad Cow).

While there's some truth in fiction, I believe there's another angle to consider.
The virus accelerates our aging, disrupting internal clocks. Telomeres, biological markers of aging, shorten with chronic illness and correspond with reduced lifespan.
Aug 25, 2023 14 tweets 2 min read
🧵 Pandemic Reflections

The past few years have been a crash course in health and safety for many of us. From understanding masks and respirators to the intricacies of viruses, the amount of information has been overwhelming. /1 In 2019, I couldn't differentiate between valveless and valved masks, or all the NIOSH ratings. Grilling outside was just about avoiding smoke, not understanding the nuances of respiratory protection. /2
Aug 18, 2023 13 tweets 2 min read
Something I learned from a well-read, highly intelligent Twitter/X contributor & science communicator:

SARS-CoV-2 is a syncytial virus - the ability to cause the fusion of neighboring infected cells, leading to the formation of multi-nucleated giant cells called syncytia. 🧵 @DonEford was the 1st to really connect the dots for me why this isn’t “just a cold.” A common cold can be caused by >200 different viruses.

Most of them are NOT syncytial (frequent culprits are rhinoviruses, which belong to the picornavirus family & do not form syncytia) /2
Aug 2, 2023 4 tweets 2 min read
@jljcolorado is providing an awesome talk right now on air cleaners - I am shocked to learn that anything but HEPA, CR-Box, MERV13 and Activated Carbon filters can cause severe harm that outweighs the benefits. Simulated deaths from cleaner-caused pollution negate effects! /🧵

Image
Image
Image
Also one should keep in mind that while most activated carbon filters have good underlying technology, the quality of most of these filters on the market are too weak or insufficient for a given space (check grams or may need kilograms in some cases).
Mar 4, 2023 12 tweets 4 min read
If you search “disruptive behavior” you will find news reports of an uptick in schools across the U.S. Since the start of the pandemic, there’s also been an increase in online search about disruptive behavior (perhaps reflecting efforts to understand it & how to mitigate). 🧵 Image There’s one thing that we’ve known very early on about Covid. It impacts brain function.

sciencedirect.com/science/articl…
Jan 10, 2023 23 tweets 8 min read
High levels of cognitive functioning are needed for sustained health behavior engagement (adherence).

This is true of dieting, exercise, smoking cessation & alcohol abstinence. Even masking.

Should we refer to non adherents as having a “brain disease?”

IMO, no.

Time for a 🧵 🚫 🧠 disease.

It also doesn’t mean those who’ve fallen short of health behavior change (e.g., weight loss goals) are “failures,” or should be shamed.

I will argue its more akin to cognitive impairment (a temporary, malleable state), perpetuated by the habituated behavior.
Mar 3, 2022 13 tweets 4 min read
1/ Timing [Perception of] is everything (a thread). Future time perspective (FTP) plays an important role in our health-related decisions, behavior and belief systems.
iaap-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.11… 2/ FTP appears to influence individuals’ attitudes and behaviors towards the environment. tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.10…
Nov 17, 2021 13 tweets 4 min read
Do face masks impair exercise performance?

A thread (1/13)

Short answer = No!

@ACSMNews @NASPSPA @KCHillinois @AHSIllinois @NYTSports @ESSASpSc @EIMnews @exerciseworks @BehavioralMed @IHRSA @AnytimeFitness @CSBS_Illinois 2/ First, the masks being worn by the general public to prevent COVID spread are primarily surgical, cotton, poly-cotton, polypropylene, knitted, bandannas & fleece masks (unfortunately, the last 2 are the least effective )sciencealert.com/simple-low-cos…