Cerebral dysfunctions caused by sepsis during ageing.

Aged; Aging; Humans; Brain Diseases; COVID-19/complications; Sepsis/complications; Sepsis-Associated Encephalopathy; COVID-19; Sepsis; Immunology and Allergy; Immunology; General Medicine

Abstract :

[en] Systemic inflammation elicited by sepsis can induce an acute cerebral dysfunction known as sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE). Recent evidence suggests that SAE is common but shows a dynamic trajectory over time. Half of all patients with sepsis develop SAE in the intensive care unit, and some survivors present with sustained cognitive impairments for several years after initial sepsis onset. It is not clear why some, but not all, patients develop SAE and also the factors that determine the persistence of SAE. Here, we first summarize the chronic pathology and the dynamic changes in cognitive functions seen after the onset of sepsis. We then outline the cerebral effects of sepsis, such as neuroinflammation, alterations in neuronal synapses and neurovascular changes. We discuss the key factors that might contribute to the development and persistence of SAE in older patients, including premorbid neurodegenerative pathology, side effects of sedatives, renal dysfunction and latent virus reactivation. Finally, we postulate that some of the mechanisms that underpin neuropathology in SAE may also be relevant to delirium and persisting cognitive impairments that are seen in patients with severe COVID-19.

Disciplines :

Neurology

Author, co-author :

Manabe, Tatsuya ; Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Geriatric Psychiatry, University of Bonn Medical Center, Bonn, Germany ; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany

HENEKA, Michael ; Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Geriatric Psychiatry, University of Bonn Medical Center, Bonn, Germany. michael.heneka@ukbonn.de ; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany. michael.heneka@ukbonn.de ; Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA. michael.heneka@ukbonn.de

External co-authors :

yes

Language :

English

Title :

Cerebral dysfunctions caused by sepsis during ageing.

Publication date :

July 2022

Journal title :

Nature Reviews. Immunology

ISSN :

1474-1733

eISSN :

1474-1741

Publisher :

Nature Research, England

Volume :

Issue :

Pages :

444 - 458

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Additional URL :

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41577-021-00643-7.pdf

Funding text :

Financial support for this article was provided by German Research Council (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft) to M.T.H. (HE 3350/11-1).

Available on ORBilu :

since 22 July 2024

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