2024 Alzheimer's Association Research Fellowship to Promote Diversity (AARF-D)

Myelin Loss and Cognitive Impairment Following SARS-CoV-2 Infection

What brain changes are associated with SARS-CoV-2-Related Cognitive Decline?

Narlon Cassio Boa Sorte Silva, Ph.D.
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, Canada

Background

Some people who contract SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, experience cognitive decline and are at higher risk for dementia. The factors underlying SARS-CoV-2-related cognitive decline are not well understood. 

Dr. Nárlon Cássio Boa Sorte Silva and colleagues believe that a substance in the brain called myelin may be involved in the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on cognition. Myelin is a protective layer that wraps around nerve cell fibers and is important for the proper functioning of these cells. Studies suggest that SARS-CoV-2 infection triggers an overactive inflammatory response in the brain, similar to what may occur in Alzheimer’s, which leads to the loss of myelin.

Research Plan

Dr. Boa Sorte Silva and team will leverage data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) to investigate the role of myelin loss in cognitive decline after SARS-CoV-2 infection. They will study brain imaging (magnetic resonance imaging, MRI) scans from older individuals enrolled in the CLSA COVID-19 Brain Health Study, a multi-site, longitudinal cohort study examining the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on cognition and brain health outcomes. The researchers will also study the impact of genetic risk factors, Alzheimer’s-related brain changes, and brain protective factors on the relationship between myelin loss and cognitive decline.

Impact

The results of this study may shed light on the biological mechanisms underlying cognitive decline following SARS-CoV-2 infection. The findings may also inform future work on identifying and treating individuals most at risk for SARS-CoV-2-related cognitive decline.