If you are bothered by mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, then you’ll be familiar with the symptoms that can follow, most commonly memory loss, lack of interest in the outside world and fatigue, exhaustion, poor concentration and sensitivity to noise. However, cognitive impairment can occur in other people, too, with effects even earlier than those seen in many mental illnesses. Now, scientists at Toxicon Limited in Manchester have identified five specific characteristics that can result in this, with some potentially impacting more severely than others.
GETTY – STOCK Images Symptoms of COSVID-19 might include memory loss and memory loss
One of the symptoms seen in smokers who are unhealthy is brain fog. Dr Bernard Wehrle
The traits, three of which are associated with COSVID-19, have been shown to occur in the saliva of smokers who are unhealthy and in migraine sufferers and others with conditions such as arthritis. The researchers concluded that each could be treated with new supplements that help to stop the ageing process. Dr Bernard Wehrle, of Toxicon, said: “A study of 500 people, both smokers and non-smokers, examined the impact of chronic diet toxicity and poor lifestyle on cognitive ability in normal volunteers – there was no cognitive impairment at the time of the study. “Although smoking is associated with cognitive decline, it does not have a fatal impact. However, it does deplete brain cells, and there is no known way to counteract this process. “Some research shows that diet may be an important way to counteract these effects. If someone is constantly dieting but is not eating a healthy diet, this may result in the absence of brain cells in their brain.
GETTY – STOCK Images Five factors could affect the degree of cognitive impairment, including diet
“Another health condition that studies show a correlation with brain impairment is low zinc, and about 30 per cent of smokers smoke where there is low level of zinc. “This is potentially a result of low levels of vitamin E. So supplementation may help to counteract this effect.” About 15 per cent of migraine sufferers also have low levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their saliva, Dr Wehrle added. Other factors found to have significant effect include “unnecessary excretion of the body’s wastes and inflammation”.
GETTY – STOCK Images Cognitive impairment can occur in other people, too, with effects even earlier than in mental illnesses
Some of the features that it could be detrimental to include: Having spent too much time sunbathing before the age of 16
Having had a level of acute infection lasting three days or more
Dr Wehrle added: “It is interesting that a third, peripheral findings point to COSVID-19, which, having been linked to apoptosis in the brain, suggests that inflammation could be a cause of cognitive impairment. “The ability to prevent brain inflammation to prevent cognitive impairment is a key concern, as inflammatory reactions can also accelerate the decline of brain cells, leading to conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.” The researchers then tested the supplements they studied on the volunteers, at the same time as the blood was tested for these and other conditions.
GETTY – STOCK Images The combination of delayed development and joint problems may be another cause
Dr Wehrle said: “The supplements that were combined had little to no effect. “That indicates they may not have been causing COSVID-19 to occur.” However, those who were given the supplement alone showed that it was linked to inflammation and death of brain cells. Dr Wehrle added: “Overall, our study establishes that the impairment, including memory loss, could be linked to an ageing brain, and demonstrates that early intervention is key. “Although all five of the changes we saw occurred before the age of 30, the combined effects we saw from three of the five changes – low vitamin D, unhealthy diet and lack of vitamin E – would have occurred before the age of 15.”
