Research on nano/neuro chemistry, echem, chemical imaging
@goteborgsu
. Member Swedish Academy of Science. Opinions are entirely my own. Take them or leave them!
1/55 Covid and the brain. An update of my January 29 2022 thread (linked).
A lot of new science, some therapy suggestions.
Peer reviewed, preprints, news commentaries, videos. 55 tweets.
.
1/36 Update of the covid and the brain talk I recently gave to Drs at Select Medical
Better quality figures
More on references to look up: Lancet, NEJM, Nature, Neurology, etc
Some new material dispersed and at end
Some thoughts on possible treatments (not my expertise)
I don't think we've ever faced a pathogen like covid in recorded history. Airborne, easily transmitted, severe, widespread in terms of affected systems, immune dysfunction, persistent and capable of short-interval reinfection. Why anyone wants to downplay this is beyond me.
My daughter is 10. Masked every day for 2 yrs, lunches home. Think the only kid in grade not infected by covid at least once (teachers too). Friday, relative visited her at mom's n didn't disclose had been exposed. Today she was +ve at lunch n this evening 39 C fever.
1/ Covid and the brain. I am updating my list of papers, which is extensive.
But, in the meantime, here is a talk I gave recently, "What happens to the brain when we are on covid."
With links to references.
Immunity debt vs post covid immune deficiency (PCID).
Not an immunology expert, but here are 25 papers/articles that collectively argue for PCID.
Immunity debt is a made up term that reflects poor science.
🧵
And yes, today I am angry at all you idiots that don't care about anyone else except yourselves, as well as all the minimisers who have in reality kept this pandemic going.
The covid-induced lung/vasculature damage and brain fog (not to mention potential early Alzheimers) to many of our children & associated effects on learning now and health later are going to have a greater effect on their future than online learning or wearing a mask.
Saying the virus will be around and we can't stop it is politics, not science. We have stopped many viruses by keeping them at very low levels. We are not doing this with Covid in most places. If there's a will there's a way and the way has been spelled out scientifically.
I'm a parent.
I'm an active scientist.
I'm involved in discussing public health.
I'm likely way left of you politically.
I think the potential benefit of masking young kids is excellent and the potential for harm negligible.
My kids have worn masks in school every day 2 yrs.
The average IQ of the world is at least 50 points lower than I would have ever guessed prior the pandemic and the average EQ (emotional, empathy quotient) is less than half.
My scientific hunch looking at the Covid & brain science is basically most infected persons will have some kind of brain issue at some point. Can we prove this? Of course not. But are will we willing to wait for the destruction of the western human brain before we do something?
She knows how hard she worked, how great she was. She was my hero! Beyond the disease, this failure of the world around her, while she succeeded so well, is heartbreaking to watch.
3 meetings this summer, never unmasked indoors even to speak. Many others caught covid, but not me.
For 1 question I asked, they asked me to remove the mask, but it was the microphone & I asked for a better mic - worked fine!
Don't give in. Masks not perfect, b they help a lot.
1) Some countries showed nicely that zero covid can/could have worked. Most of us decided not to do it.
2) This has led to massive spread and the new variants and pretty certain more to come.
People saying there is nothing we can do to stop it are in fact largely responsible.
Covid damage to the body, blood, and brain is going to be a disaster. It will take time to tell, but I will bet on it.
And, those who say it is too late to do anything need to realise that the goal now has to be to minimise reinfections.
Immune dysfunction after Covid19.
We've known since 2020.
We do not know if it is progressive, but w reinfections pretty high & viral persistence occurring it does not matter.
A thread from my threads - the top 12 papers showing clear immune dysregulation in chronological order!
SARS1 -> 10 years later (2013 story)
Compromised immune systems
Chronic fatigue
That was for people who had it once.
Now we are facing many infections.
We need to realise we can never go back to 2019 now.
We missed that chance several times
1/2
1/29 COVID IS AIRBORNE. TRANSMISSION IS VIA AEROSOLS. CAN MODEL LIKE CIGARETTE SMOKE
SURPRISED THIS IS/WAS CONTROVERSIAL!
MASKS, VENTILATION AND FILTERS
MORE FOR Delta w 1000X VIRAL LOAD
Thread: evidence & consequences of aerosol (covid is airborne) transmission
After the failures of the last 2.5 years I find myself asking why we have public health programs?
They do not seem to want to listen to logic, read relevant literature, dissect the science or really to stop a disease that now promises to wreak havoc on the world for a long time.
I write a tweet about not being bullied about wearing a mask to speak at conferences and am attacked by antimaskers.
@dgurdasani1
writes a tweet about not wanting to unmask for a procedure and is attacked.
What happened to personal choice?
Only if it is what you would choose?
I firmly believe that in a year we will look back and say why didn't we do more to stop it at omicron like many say now about the original and delta, etc.
Need to follow the science, not minimiser and fatalist opinions!
1/20 Covid and the brain. 19 papers from my list of scientific studies and related topics.
Preprints are/were not yet peer reviewed.
In chronological order.
It is difficult to scientifically deny that covid has adverse effects on the brain.
Most immunologists seem to agree covid harms the immune system. Some are resistant and did not like my original thread of papers. Here I begin 36 more refs that show/imply immune damage. Many studies are for severe covid, but some mild.
Original thread:
Immunity debt vs post covid immune deficiency (PCID).
Not an immunology expert, but here are 25 papers/articles that collectively argue for PCID.
Immunity debt is a made up term that reflects poor science.
🧵
As to all the increases in flu, RSV, polio, even ebola, I think we need to start looking at PCID - post covid immune deficiency.
We know covid affects the adversely immune system like many viruses, but worse and prevalence has been/is much higher.
1/36 Update of the covid and the brain talk I recently gave to Drs at Select Medical
Better quality figures
More on references to look up: Lancet, NEJM, Nature, Neurology, etc
Some new material dispersed and at end
Some thoughts on possible treatments (not my expertise)
Short 🧵
1/4 If washing your hands prevents RSV and flu infections, then isn't it more likely all the hand washing led to 'immunity debt' than lockdowns and masks, which were not implemented well?
Yet, "experts" telling us to wash kids hands now.
This is a completely nonscientific evaluation. Immunity does not work this way. Is like saying climate change is not real w a cold week.
Some clear misinformation too: parts of Europe have had children's hospitals nearly overwhelmed.
No one should take this thread seriously.
Updates:
US flu trends: sharply down.
US RSV hospitalizations: sharply down.
US Monkeypox: close to zero.
Same in Europe.
Remember the claims that widespread post-COVID immunodeficiency had caused their earlier rises?
If that were true, cases would have to be going up and up.
Two years ago we had intense twitter debates about the effects of Covid19 on the brain. Now it is accepted.
Before that about airborne transmission.
Now it is about immune dysregulation. It happens and we need to stop minimising and find out how much and how long.
US Pediatric hospitals are overrun with resp diseases But misses the elephant in the room -> PCID. > 80% of kids exposed to covid, most in sp 22. Is why did not see in fall 21, why is not immunity debt. If it looks, smells, growls like a bear, it's a bear!
Covid minimisers/centrists are desperate to undermine the reality of
#Longcovid
.
They are scared bc if they admit that LC is real, they have to admit that their minimising takes about Covid & their promotion of repeated infections caused incredible suffering and disability.
Excellent article. Some excerpts.
"We’re witnessing something that doesn’t happen very often in history. It’s hard to believe, but it’s true. Our politicians and public health officials have facilitated a mass disabling event."
The western world has lost its moral compass during the pandemic.
Scientists and govt officials bought out for economics.
Health officials going for popularity or ideology.
Children being exposed to a disease that can cause brain problems and immune suppression.
Has been some discussion on two plots about hazard ratios from reinfections.
This one is from tabulated data in the Aly paper put into a plot. It is NOT 'made up' any more than any real plot of scientific data.
Most immunologists seem to agree covid harms the immune system. Some are resistant and did not like my original thread of papers. Here I begin 36 more refs that show/imply immune damage. Many studies are for severe covid, but some mild.
Original thread:
@YanzhongHuang
If we keep going in the west, this is a real possibility. Here is a thread on what covid does to the brain. The immune system and heart may be worse and then other organs.
1/55 Covid and the brain. An update of my January 29 2022 thread (linked).
A lot of new science, some therapy suggestions.
Peer reviewed, preprints, news commentaries, videos. 55 tweets.
.
Given the high case rates of covid in NYC and London it is not surprising that polio has made, at this point we hope, a small resurgence. We need to recognise the science showing covid negatively affects the immune system. We need to plan for more.
When it comes to covid there has been a lot of minimising, fatalism & hopium
It has been wrong a lot!
We need to follow science, not hopium!
That is the only way out, NOT doing nothing & hoping it goes away.
Follow science & Swiss cheese model
Some things are worth the effort
Had most of the world ignored the anti-science of the GBD and responded appropriately we probably could have avoided the destruction wrought by Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron.
My 9-yr old child is the ONLY one in class (Sweden) wearing masks and she loves them!
Asked me to buy some more with the wire in them. Told me there was a gap by the nose otherwise.
Smart kid!
This is alarming and it is happening because transmission is allowed to stay high. This is simple science. The higher the transmission/infection the more likely to generate new mutants and selection pressure is to avoid immunity.
🦠NEW VARIANT—a new
#SARSCoV2
variant C.1.2 just identified in South Africa & several countries, with concerns it could be more infectious and evade vaccines.
#C12
also has mutation rate that is nearly **twice as fast** as the rate of the other variants.🧵
People, including random sociologists, should read real scientific references. Even the poor fact check article had to indirectly admit
#LongCovid
patients often have immune deficiencies, so this is important.
Protect our children, at least now from reinfections. Mitigate schools properly with ventilation, filtrations & masks. As humans we should be adaptable.
"Every single study, from every single field, from immunology, to cardiology, to pulmonology is showing risk of vascular damage, risk of cardiac, brain and other organ damage, and risks we don’t fully understand yet. Zero studies are like “actually it’s a cold” "
Every single study, from every single field, from immunology, to cardiology, to pulmonology is showing risk of vascular damage, risk of cardiac, brain and other organ damage, and risks we don’t fully understand yet. Zero studies are like “actually it’s a cold”
Damn! Covid short & long effects: Here the lungs, but w brain, gut, heart, immune system, kidneys, liver, reproductive system, blood clotting, blood vessels... it's easier to list the things that aren't affected by this virus.
Can I please get a minimizer to comment on this study on altered lung physiology after COVID?
“Irrespective of COVID severity … ⬆️ ventilation homogeneity 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝟭𝟱 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴”
1/ *May 1 2020, Title: Reduction and Functional Exhaustion of T Cells in Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
” T cell counts are reduced significantly in COVID-19 patients, and the surviving T cells appear functionally exhausted.”
Coming to reality!
"The US CDC now recommends immunization, hand hygiene, clean air, isolation, treatment, face masks, social distancing and testing to prevent and protect against COVID-19 and tells the public there is no sign of SARS-CoV-2 becoming a winter virus."
Why do some persist in saying the Spanish flu died out by mutating to a less virulent strain?
We actually have no idea why it stopped
Covidiots deny science to downplay omicron
Smart people again call for the precautionary principle All this science & we have learned NOTHING!
We could have suppressed covid in 2020, but those that eventually signed the GBD resisted.
We might have shut down covid in 2021, but those that signed the GBD were a major part of the misinformation that kept a lot of people away from vaccinating.
2/ July 2020, Title: AIDS and COVID-19 are two diseases separated by a common lymphocytopenia
”reduction in B-cells found in both diseases & more severe reduction in the total amount of T-cells in COVID-19 vs AIDS”
@jeffgilchrist
Mysterious Pediatric hepatitis of unknown etiology,
➡️We were right, it was COVID-19!
T Cell Cross-reactivity in Autoimmune-like Hepatitis Triggered by COVID-19
SARS1 long effects
Read this & magnify by 100s of millions that have been infected with SARS2 & some reinfected.
We are going to pay a heavy price...
Our children are going to pay a heavy price...
For our foolish, unscientific approach to handling Covid19.
Amazing. When I said a couple years ago that most of us will have some brain problems after COVID, an idiot on here (not to be named) attacked me.
"65% of COVID-19 patients were identified as having new-onset cognitive impairment based on MoCA scores."
Trouble awaits!
The risk of COGNITIVE DECLINE and DEMENTIA in OLDER ADULTS DIAGNOSED with COVID-19
A systematic review and meta-analysis + mega-thread 🧵
Thanks to
@DavidJoffe64
All of the medical people gleefully taking off their masks chose the wrong profession and should be ashamed of themselves sending this message when we know hosp infections go up as masks come off.
Il y a bien 3 min 42 d’obscurantisme scientifique dans cette vidéo des services du
@chbeziers
Le déni jovial des infections nosocomiales par contamination airborne n’a rien à envier à la réthorique antivax, les deux sont des atteintes graves et coupables à la santé publique.
Endemic has replaced the unattainable herd immunity for the GBDers.
It's there and it sounds like science, but it is again completely misunderstood.
Of course it is not science, it is economics - and that is also misunderstood by most.
@fitterhappierAJ
Immunity to RSV is short lived. Several studies show this. The whole immunity debt when it comes to RSV is a joke and no matter how many times we point out that immunity does not last, they keep coming back with their debt theory. Poor science.
If someone has hit you on the head w a hammer causing some damage, yes it is too late to stop that damage, but it is not too late to stop subsequent hits.
We need to slow infections in a serious way, world wide!
I fear the world we are creating otherwise.
Interesting article on the karate attitude and Covid. Good quote at the end, "For me, getting tired of doing what needs to be done after only 2½ years is unthinkable."
As a martial artist for 34 yrs, this resonates at & hope it helps others.
The outpouring of empathy since I posted this yesterday has made me reconsider tweet 3 w regards to general empathy.
For the small handful of trolls spouting kids are fine, only the flu nonsense, please read tweet 3 again as it applies to you.
For everyone else, thank you! 🙏
12/ Jan 22 2022, Title: Immunological dysfunction persists for 8 months following initial mild-to-moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection
Important paper showing immune function was not restored even at 8 months.
Good read.
"Living in the pandemicene means normalizing mask wearing. It means installing air purifiers, developing safe Far UVC light, and upgrading ventilation in public spaces. It means developing vaccines, tests, and treatments ahead of time."
Good quotes, "Many people who have had COVID brush it off, saying it was no worse than a bad case of the flu. What they don’t know is that they are more vulnerable to secondary infections that may cause them to seek help at a hospital emergency ward."
Why is the virus winning? Because too many "experts" keep saying there is nothing we can do - and governments are listening because it is easier.
The best experts I know do not agree!
This is "Don't Look Up" in real life!
"The virus is winning" because we have capitulated, betrayed by rogues and fools, who are lying to us and weaponising nihilism. Everything that is happening now is entirely our own fault.
3/ September 28 2020, Title: SARS-CoV-2 Uses CD4 to Infect T Helper Lymphocytes
”SARS-CoV-2 spike binds to CD4 and mediates entry of SARSCoV-2 in T cells, then assembles viral factories, impairs cell function and may cause cell death.
”
"COVID-19 is a disease that has an acute and chronic phase. Both phases can be asymptomatic or symptomatic, and the severity and nature of symptoms in either phase depends on the host immune response, viral inoculum and location of infection."
Interesting debate. A scientist who signed a letter to the UK prime minister is now saying he is uncomfortable when scientists he disagrees with more or less do the same.
Balloux was a signatory on a letter lobbying Boris Johnson along with Great Barrington declaration coauthors.
The GBD lobbied for "herd immunity" by infection.
No surprise Balloux cosigned.
Did Balloux forget?
@Anton_Vikstrom
Not everyone gets these, just a significant percentage. So, if you have no symptoms, I would say relax for now.
Hopefully in the years to come we will unravel what underlying things might have occurred and how to deal with them. There is a lot of work in this area now.