Relationship between COVID-19 and Alzheimers disease

Abstract

Rim M. Harfouch

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is a life-threatening disease, especially in elderly individuals and those with comorbidities. The predominant clinical mani- festation of COVID-19 is respiratory dysfunction, while neurological presentations are increasingly being recognized. SARS- CoV-2 invades host cells primarily via attachment of the spike protein to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) recep- tor expressed on cell membranes. Patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection and prone to severe clinical outcomes. Recent studies have revealed some common risk factors for AD and COVID-19. An under- standing of the association between COVID-19 and AD and the potential related mechanisms may lead to the development of novel approaches to treating both diseases. It is important to understand the mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 invades the central nervous system (CNS) and the associations and potential shared factors between COVID-19 and AD.

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