Published on: 11/09/20
A new study offers the first clear evidence that in some people, the coronavirus invades brain cells, hijacking them to make copies of itself, according to an article in The Independent newspaper.
The virus also seems to suck up all of the oxygen nearby, starving neighbouring cells to death.
The study was posted online on Wednesday and has not yet been vetted by experts for publication. But, according to the article, several researchers said it was careful and elegant, showing in multiple ways that the virus can infect brain cells.
Scientists have had to rely on brain imaging and patient symptoms to infer effects on the brain, but “we hadn’t really seen much evidence that the virus can infect the brain, even though we knew it was a potential possibility,” said Dr Michael Zandi, consultant neurologist at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in Britain. “This data just provides a little bit more evidence that it certainly can.”
The full story talks more about the research and expert opinions.
