Professor Kang Dong-woo of Psychiatry at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital Selected for 'Creative and Challenging Research Support Project'

Study on the Mechanisms of Cognitive Decline and Dementia Onset After COVID-19 Infection

Professor Kang Dong-woo, Department of Psychiatry, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] Domestic research on cognitive decline and dementia onset mechanisms following COVID-19 infection is set to accelerate.

Catholic University Seoul St. Mary's Hospital announced on the 17th that Professor Kang Dong-woo of the Department of Psychiatry has been selected for a new project under the "Creative and Challenging Research Base Support Project," led by the Ministry of Education and supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea.

Professor Kang plans to conduct research on the mechanisms of dementia onset after COVID-19 infection, receiving 210 million KRW in funding through 2025.

Among confirmed COVID-19 cases, those aged 60 and above account for about 3 million people, representing 18% of all cases. In the elderly group, neurological abnormalities caused by central nervous system invasion are known to occur more frequently.

In particular, short-term reports of executive function loss syndrome after COVID-19 infection have been repeatedly documented, and many cases of the 'Brain Fog' syndrome, characterized mainly by short-term memory and executive function decline, have been reported as long-term cognitive sequelae.

The main mechanisms increasing the risk of cognitive decline after COVID-19 infection include ischemic brain injury mechanisms, increased influx of toxic substances into the brain, and dysregulation of inflammatory responses within the brain. Recent studies have confirmed an increase in Alzheimer's disease-related pathogenic genomes in postmortem examinations.

Through this research, Professor Kang aims to clarify the main pathways of cognitive decline and dementia onset after COVID-19 infection by integrating information on causative pathology, high-risk genes, and structural and functional brain changes, focusing on the inflammation hypothesis among Alzheimer's disease onset theories.

Professor Kang stated, “The number of patients visiting with complaints of cognitive decline and worsening of existing dementia symptoms after COVID-19 infection has significantly increased. Considering that the pandemic began only two years ago, cognitive decline and dementia onset as long-term sequelae will emerge as major issues. Through this research, we hope to identify key mechanisms of onset, screen vulnerable groups during the onset process, and establish customized prevention and treatment protocols.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.