Neuropathological Aspects of SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Significance for Both Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease

Jaime Silva; Felipe Patricio; Aleidy Patricio-Martínez; Gerardo Santos-López; Lilia Cedillo; Yousef Tizabi; Ilhuicamina Daniel Limón

doi:10.3389/fnins.2022.867825

Neuropathological Aspects of SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Significance for Both Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease

Front Neurosci. 2022 May 3:16:867825. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2022.867825. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Jaime Silva¹, Felipe Patricio¹, Aleidy Patricio-Martínez^{1

2}, Gerardo Santos-López³, Lilia Cedillo⁴, Yousef Tizabi⁵, Ilhuicamina Daniel Limón¹

Affiliations

¹ Laboratorio de Neurofarmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, Mexico.
² Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, Mexico.
³ Laboratorio de Biología Molecular y Virología, Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Oriente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Atlixco, Mexico.
⁴ Centro de Detección Biomolecular, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, Mexico.
⁵ Department of Pharmacology, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC, United States.

Abstract

Evidence suggests that SARS-CoV-2 entry into the central nervous system can result in neurological and/or neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, routes of SARS-Cov-2 entry into the brain via neuroinvasive pathways such as transcribrial, ocular surface or hematogenous system are discussed. It is argued that SARS-Cov-2-induced cytokine storm, neuroinflammation and oxidative stress increase the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Further studies on the effects of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants on protein aggregation, glia or microglia activation, and blood-brain barrier are warranted.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Parkinson’s disease; SARS-CoV-2; blood-brain barrier; neuroinvasive pathways.

Publication types

Review