Coronavirus and brain ailments
Neurologists around the world say a small proportion of Covid-19 patients are developing problems with brain function, reports The New York Times. A fever, dry cough, and breathing difficulties remain the most common symptoms of the disease. But specialists in Europe, China, and the U.S. have recorded cases in which patients display signs of encephalopathy—a catchall term for brain disease and malfunction—including serious conditions such as strokes, seizures, and blood clots. One 74-year-old patient in Florida lost his ability to speak; in Detroit, a woman in her late 50s had abnormal swelling in several brain regions. Experts emphasize that this is only a tiny subset of patients, and that it’s still not known whether these symptoms are actually linked to Covid-19. One possible explanation is that breathing difficulties leave patients with less oxygen in their bloodstream and more carbon dioxide, impacting brain function. “We absolutely need to have an information-finding mission,” says Dr. Sherry Chou, a neurologist at the University of Pittsburgh. “Otherwise, we’re flying blind.”
diagnosed with Covid-19. But in New York City and the 13 states that also report fatalities by gender, men account for more than 50 percent of deaths. This disparity may be due to biology rather than behavior, reports The Washington Post. A growing body of research shows that women are naturally better at fighting off infections. Women with acute HIV have 40 percent less viral genetic material in their blood than men, for example, and women are less susceptible to the viruses that cause hepatitis B and C. A possible reason for this difference is that many of the genes that drive immune function are on the X chromosome, of which women have two and men only one. Sex hormones also play a role: Estrogen can boost production of disease-fighting molecules. Robyn Klein, from Washington University in
St. Louis, says it seems “like everything is designed so that females are going to have a more robust immune response.”
Covid-19, a new study suggests. Harvard University researchers examined levels of the tiny, dangerous airborne particles known as PM 2.5 and coronavirus deaths in 3,080 U.S. counties. They found that a person living for decades in a county with high levels of fine particulate matter is 15 percent more likely to die from the respiratory disease than someone in an area with one unit less of PM 2.5—that is, one microgram less per cubic meter. “Previous work showed that air pollution exposure dramatically increased the risk of death from SARS during the 2003 outbreak,” coauthor Rachel Nethery tells The Guardian (U.K.). “So we think our results here are consistent with those findings.” Applying their findings to Manhattan, the researchers noted that if the borough had lowered its average particulate matter by one unit over the past 20 years, it would have registered 248 fewer Covid-19 deaths so far in the pandemic. The study could help public health officials decide how to allocate ventilators and other equipment as the virus spreads.