Researchers have uncovered how post-viral fatigue syndromes, including Long COVID, become life-changing diseases and why patients suffer frequent relapses.
Covid isn’t the only viral infection that causes “Long” symptoms.
Although long COVID symptoms have stolen the media spotlight in recent times, brain fog, lack of refreshing sleep, poor response to even small stresses and reduced energy levels commonly arising from viral infections.
These symptoms together may indicate a condition known medically as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). Essentially these symptoms are believed to be caused by neuro-inflammation or in other words – inflammation of nerves.
Lead author Emeritus Professor Warren Tate, of the University of Otago’s Department of Biochemistry, says how these debilitating brain effects develop is poorly understood.
In a study published in Frontiers in Neurology, he and colleagues from Otago, Victoria University of Wellington and University of Technology Sydney, developed a unifying model to explain how the brain-centred symptoms of these diseases are sustained through a brain-body connection.
They proposed that, following an initial viral infection or stressor event, the systemic illness moves to the brain possibly through a dysfunctional blood-brain barrier. The blood-brain barrier is usually an impenetrable fortress that protects our brain and nervous system from chemicals, drugs and infection. This transfer of illness from the body to the brain results in chronic neuro-inflammation, leading to a sustained illness. However, this may also include a cycle of recovery followed by relapse.
The model proposes healing does not occur because a signal continuously cycles from the brain to the body, causing the patient to relapse.
The creation of this model is not only important for the “huge research effort ahead,” but also to provide recognition for ME/CFS and Long COVID sufferers.
“These diseases are very closely related, and it is clear the biological basis of Long COVID is unequivocally connected to the original COVID infection – so there should no longer be any debate and doubt about the fact that post viral fatigue syndromes like ME/CFS are biologically based and involve much disturbed physiology,” Emeritus Professor Tate says.
Positive news for those with Long Covid, and other post viral illnesses
The work of Professor Tate and his colleagues will enable medical professionals to develop treatment guidelines and understand the best way to treat the effects of long covid and other post viral illnesses including those who may have long standing effects suspected to be from vaccination.
“Patients need appropriate affirmation of their biological-based illness and help to mitigate the distressing symptoms of these very difficult life-changing syndromes which are difficult for the patients to manage by themselves.
“This work highlighted that there is a susceptible subset of people who develop such syndromes when exposed to a severe stress, like infection with COVID-19, or the glandular fever virus Epstein Barr, or in some people with vaccination that is interpreted as a severe stress.”
“What should be a transient inflammatory/immune response in the body to clear the infection, develop immunity and manage the physiological stress, becomes chronic, and so the disease persists.”
Whilst we wait for further research to be conducted, there are some emerging therapies that are very safe and have been used successfully in many other inflammatory conditions with much evidence to support their use.
These include products such as:
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