Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
Scientist working in a laboratory
Scientist working in a laboratory - Credit: alexraths / DepositPhotos - License: DepositPhotos
Health
Coronavirus
SARS-CoV-2
Covid-19
immune system
brain damage
Amsterdam UMC
Paul van der Valk
T-lymphocytes
Monday, 28 September 2020 - 08:23
Share this:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • reddit

SARS-CoV-2 may also cause brain damage: Amsterdam researchers

The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 may be even more dangerous than thought. In addition to affecting the lungs and various other organs, the virus also affects the brain, according to a study by Amsterdam UMC researchers published in The Lancet Microbe.

Pathologist Paul van der Valk and his team studied the brains of 11 patients who died of Covid-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus. They found that in 10 of the patients, the virus left clear marks in the brain. Immune cells, called T-lymphocytes, were discovered in their brains, while these cells definitely do not belong there, Van der Valk explained to Nieuwsuur.

"These are cells that are normally kept out of the brain," Van der Valk said. "But in the Covid-19 patients, we saw that they had left the bloodstream and entered the brain tissue. Then, as a pathologist, I know: something is very wrong here."

The immune cells were found in the 10 patients' entire brain and spinal cord, though there was no trace of the virus itself there. Van der Valk therefore believes that the immune cells, created to fight Covid-19, mistakenly attacked certain proteins in the brain. "That can happen if the protein somewhat resembles the virus. The own immune system then runs wild." Further research will be needed to figure out which proteins these immune cells targeted.

Van der Valk thinks that this could already explain why so many coronavirus patients still suffer from fatigue and concentration problems even months after recovering. "Immune-suppressing medication may be able to provide relief for this group. But that needs to be investigated further," he said to Nieuwsuur.

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • Cyber threat increasing faster than Dutch companies' resilience
  • Fourth person arrested in Peter R. de Vries murder Monday afternoon
  • Over 350 monkeypox cases diagnosed in the Netherlands so far; First child tests positive
  • Fed-up Schiphol passengers march up baggage claim belt to grab luggage
  • Rising Covid infections prompt nursing homes to ask visitors to use face masks
  • Free market home rental prices jump 12 percent in a year

Top stories

  • Over 350 monkeypox cases diagnosed in the Netherlands so far; First child tests positive
  • Police arrest new suspect for directing murder of journalist Peter R. de Vries
  • Over 1.6 million people experienced discrimination last year
  • NS running fewer trains this week due to staff shortages
  • Tractors on highways, blocking distribution centers in another day of farmers protests
  • House fire in Waalwijk apartment sends 3 to hospital

© 2012-2022, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Partner content