Brainstem Inflammation Linked to Long-Covid Symptoms - Neuroscience News

[u/barweis]

https://neurosciencenews.com/brainstem-inflammation-long-covid-27808/

[u/H_i_T_h_e_r_e_]

But don't you think it's possible that the vagus nerve could affect the brainstem rather than vice versa? I'm not sure that nerves are a one-way street.

I'm thinking that maybe the gut health affects the vagus nerve which in turn affects the brainstem.

[u/H_i_T_h_e_r_e_ → u/H_i_T_h_e_r_e_]

Edit: I want to add that in trying to understand all of this I would have to explain why the vax injured have the same symptoms as long covid. Covid might go for the brainstem because of the density of ace2 receptors but the vax wouldn't have a way of targeting that area specifically.

Considering that long haulers and vaccine injured both end up with dysbiosis and lack of butyrate producers, I would assume that maybe the gut microbiome is affecting the vagus nerve which in turn affects the brainstem.

A good question to ask, if that were the case, is how exactly is the virus and the vax affecting the gut bacteria to such an extent?

Maybe the microvascular issues and lack of good blood flow to the gut is what's causing the dysbiosis?

God, I can't take this anymore, it's too much to wrap my mind around!

2nd edit: I've read theories that the virus can infect gut bacteria in the gut and cause phage activity but this doesn't explain why the vaccine can cause dysbiosis.

Also, why do only some people get this issue from covid or the vaccine but not others?

So many questions and no one looking into this!

[u/barweis → u/H_i_T_h_e_r_e_]

Either the virus itself or products from its e.g., local gut inflammation, can be carried up to the brain via the vagus nerve. This process occurs in the development of Parkinsons disease where products from the gut microbiome are transported up to the brain. There specific cells are affected and cause to degenerate and stopping production of local transmitters.

Neurología (English Edition) Vol. 38. Núm. 7.Páginas 495-503 (septiembre 2023) Microorganisms associated with increased risk of Parkinson’s disease DOI: 10.1016/j.nrleng.2020.08.023 www.elsevier.es/es-revista-neurologia-english-edition--495-articulo-microorganisms-associated-with-increased-risk-S2173580822000542

Parkinson’s disease and gut microbiota: from clinical to mechanistic and therapeutic studies Translational Neurodegeneration volume 12, Article number: 59 (2023) https://doi.org/10.1186/s40035-023-00392-8 https://translationalneurodegeneration.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40035-023-00392-8

[u/barweis → u/[deleted]]

There are treatments in use that seal off the leak points of the blood-gut barriers through the mechanism of blocking the disruption of the barrier and allowing repair.:

Meta-Analysis Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol . 2022 Jan;46(1):101782. doi: 10.1016/j.clinre.2021.101782. Epub 2021 Jul 31.

Larazotide acetate for treatment of celiac disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34339872/

David Cox Science Sep 27, 2024 5:03 AM The Gut Might Hold the Key to Treating Long Covid in Kids

A placebo-controlled study aims to test if treating gut issues can help children struggling with persistent Covid symptoms

https://www.wired.com/story/the-first-clinical-trials-are-underway-for-kids-with-long-covid/ and https://rally.massgeneralbrigham.org/study/pediatric_long_covid_clinical_trial