Comparing the Long-Term Impact of COVID-19 on the Progression of Alzheimer's Disease in an Elderly Population with Real-Time Monitoring as a Prognosis
Archives of Advances in Biosciences,
Vol. 16 No. 1 (2025),
2 March 2025
,
Page 1-10
https://doi.org/10.22037/aab.v16i1.50780
Abstract
Background and Aim: Despite growing awareness of “long COVID” and its neurological sequelae, the long-term influence of SARS-CoV-2 infection on Alzheimer’s progression remains poorly understood. This study aimed to compare the long-term impact of COVID-19 on the progression of AD in elderly individuals, integrating real-time digital monitoring and biomarker analytics to establish predictive prognostic models.
Methods: A longitudinal cohort of 348 participants (age≥65 years) diagnosed with early-to-moderate AD was followed over four years (2021–2025). Participants were divided into COVID-19 positive (n=174) and COVID-19 negative (n=174) groups, matched for age, sex, and comorbidities. Serum inflammatory markers (IL-6, TNF-α, CRP), neurofilament light chain (NfL), and amyloid-β/tau ratios were analyzed biannually. Machine learning algorithms were applied to identify prognostic patterns linking infection-related biomarkers with cognitive and functional decline.
Results: COVID-19-positive AD patients showed a 29% faster rate of cognitive deterioration, indicating a strong association rather than a confirmed causal relationship—between prior SARS-CoV-2 infection and accelerated AD progression (p<0.01) and a 33% increase in NfL levels compared to controls. Real-time monitoring detected significant fluctuations in sleep quality, gait stability, and heart rate variability within six months post-infection, which preceded measurable cognitive decline. Predictive modeling achieved an accuracy of 87% in forecasting accelerated progression trajectories using combined digital and biochemical markers.
Conclusion: The incorporation of wearable and biochemical data into prognostic modeling marks a paradigm shift toward personalized, predictive neurology, enabling clinicians to anticipate and mitigate the long-term neurological consequences of COVID-19 in the aging population.
- Alzheimer Disease
- Lymphopenia
- Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis
- DNA Damage
- Post Acute COVID 19 Syndrome
How to Cite
References
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