Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have made a significant breakthrough in understanding the cause of fatigue in patients with long Covid, Alzheimer’s, and other diseases. Led by Associate Professor Aaron Johnson, the team identified a specific protein that travels from the brain to muscles, leading to muscle dysfunction and reduced energy levels.
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The study, published in Science Immunology, used fruit flies and mice to model three different diseases: E. coli bacterial infection, SARS-CoV-2 viral infection, and Alzheimer’s. The researchers found that brain inflammation triggers the production of interleukin-6 (IL-6), which travels through the bloodstream and reduces energy production in muscle mitochondria.
Notably, the team discovered that IL-6 activates the JAK-STAT pathway in muscle, leading to reduced energy production. Fortunately, several FDA-approved therapeutics can block this pathway, offering potential treatment options for muscle wasting caused by bacterial infections, Alzheimer’s disease, and long Covid.
This groundbreaking discovery sheds light on the mysterious connection between brain inflammation and muscle fatigue, paving the way for new therapeutic strategies to address these debilitating symptoms.
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