Whilst many patients with long Covid improve, they are often not back to normal.
This may be acceptable to many clinicians, researchers and patients, but not for me. There is a piece of the puzzle missing which needs to be identified.
In this podcast, I muse on the overlap with tonsillar EBV and SARS-COV tonsillar remnants.
Is this a critical aspect of neuroendocrine activation leading to long Covid cognitive symptoms?
What is the immune neuroendocrine system?
The immune neuroendocrine system refers to the interplay and communication between the immune system and the neuroendocrine system in the body. The immune system is responsible for defending the body against foreign pathogens, while the neuroendocrine system is involved in regulating bodily functions, including metabolism, growth and development, and response to stress. Research has shown that the two systems are closely interconnected, with immune cells capable of producing hormones and neurotransmitters, and the neuroendocrine system capable of modulating immune responses through the release of hormones and neuropeptides. For example, stress can activate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, leading to the release of cortisol, which can suppress immune function. On the other hand, immune cells can produce cytokines, which can influence the HPA axis and the release of cortisol. This interplay between the immune and neuroendocrine systems has important implications for health and disease. Dysregulation of either system can lead to various disorders, such as autoimmune diseases, allergies, and mood disorders. Understanding the complex interactions between the immune and neuroendocrine systems can lead to the development of new treatments and interventions for these conditions.
Quoted from Chat GPT
Jara, Luis J., Elva Izquierdo, and Gabriela Medina. "Is the immune neuroendocrine system the connection between epipharyngitis and chronic fatigue syndrome induced by HPV vaccine? Editorial." Immunologic Research 65 (2017): 5-7.
Melquiades, Thais, et al. "TONSILS ARE MAJOR SITES OF PROLONGED SARS-COV-2 INFECTION IN CHILDREN." medRxiv (2023): 2023-01.
Al-Salam, Suhail, et al. "Prevalence of Epstein–Barr virus in tonsils and adenoids of United Arab Emirates nationals." International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology 75.9 (2011): 1160-1166.
Overlap of long Covid with chronic Tonsillar EBV