A method of treating ``brain fog'', which makes you unable to concentrate due to the aftereffects of the new corona, with existing drugs is reported
The new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) causes symptoms such as cough, fever, dyspnea, and body pain, and even after the infectivity disappears, there are cases where sequelae such as strong malaise and shortness of breath remain (long COVID). there is. One of the sequelae of such COVID-19 is `` brain fog '', which causes cognitive problems due to dizziness, but research results have been reported that this brain fog can be treated with a combination of existing drugs. .
Clinical experience with the α2A-adrenoceptor agonist, guanfacine, and N-acetylcysteine for the treatment of cognitive deficits in “Long-COVID19” - ScienceDirect
Potential New Treatment for “Brain Fog” in Long COVID Patients < Yale School of Medicine
https://medicine.yale.edu/news-article/potential-new-treatment-for-brain-fog-in-long-covid-patients/
One of Long COVID's Worst Symptoms May Have a Potential, Readily Available Treatment : ScienceAlert
https://www.sciencealert.com/one-of-long-covids-worst-symptoms-may-have-a-potential-readily-available-treatment
Some people who have recovered from COVID-19 experience 'brain fog,' a haze in their heads. The sequelae of COVID-19, including brain fog, can last for several months or more and have a significant impact on life, but at the time of writing, there are no approved treatment options for brain fog.
What is the reality of ``dementia-like symptoms'' experienced by some people who have recovered from the new corona? -GIGAZINE
Amy Arnsten , a professor of neuroscience at Yale University, says that cognitive tasks such as working memory and attention regulation are carried out in an area of the brain called the prefrontal cortex , which is highly vulnerable to inflammation and stress. pointed out. 'Brain circuits that generate higher cognitive functions have very specific molecular needs because they must create neural activity, such as abstract thinking, without sensory stimulation,' Arnsten said. , the molecular needs of which may be hampered by inflammatory factors.
Meanwhile, Arman Fesharaki-Zadeh, an assistant professor of neurology at Yale University, said that while treating long-term COVID patients, the combination of drugs guanfacine and N-acetylcysteine , which he has used to treat traumatic brain injury and PTSD, It seems that he has come to think that it may be effective in treating brain fog in long COVID.
Guanfacine is a drug developed for the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), designed to strengthen connections in the prefrontal cortex and protect against inflammation and stress. At the time of writing, it is not the preferred drug for ADHD patients, but it is used to treat other conditions related to prefrontal cortex dysfunction. N-Acetylcysteine is also a powerful anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, and is effective in treating the prefrontal cortex.
When examining a patient with Long COVID who complained of severe brain fog in June 2020, Fesharaki-Zadeh found that the symptoms were similar to those seen in post-concussion patients. Therefore, when I tried treatment with N-acetylcysteine, which is often prescribed for patients with traumatic brain injury, the patient immediately reported an improvement in energy and memory. Furthermore, when guanfacine, which is expected to have a synergistic effect with N-acetylcysteine, was added, it was found to be effective in eliminating brain fog.
After that, the research team of Fesharaki-Zadeh and Arnsten et al. Tried treatment with a combination of guanfacine and N-acetylcysteine for 12 patients complaining of brain fog with long COVID. Fesharaki-Zadeh instructed patients to take 1 mg of guanfacine at bedtime and increase the dose to 2 mg after a month if there were no severe side effects. In addition to this, the patient took 600 mg of N-acetylcysteine once daily.
Two patients discontinued treatment due to side effects of guanfacine, such as hypotension and dizziness, and two patients were lost to follow-up for unspecified reasons. However, all eight patients who continued treatment reported significant improvements in memory, organizational behavior skills, and multitasking ability, and some patients were completely brain fog-free and able to return to their daily lives. I was.
Although there was no placebo-prescribed control group in this study, one patient reported that cognitive impairment recurred when treatment was temporarily interrupted due to side effects, and that brain fog disappeared again when treatment was resumed. reporting. ``Although this was not a placebo-controlled trial, this anecdote gives me even more conviction that the treatment effect was really the drug, not the
Larger clinical trials are needed before the combination of guanfacine and N-acetylcysteine can be established as a legitimate treatment for brain fog. However, the two drugs have already been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and have been used for many years, so patients can get them as soon as a doctor decides to prescribe them.
Fesharaki-Zadeh said, 'With the lack of treatments for long-term COVID, as we continue to see the benefits of this treatment in patients, we felt it was urgent to disseminate this information.' 'You don't have to wait. You just ask your doctor. These drugs are affordable and widely available.'
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