COVID-19 vaccination may enhance hippocampal neurogenesis in adults

Ashutosh Kumar; Ravi K Narayan; Pranav Prasoon; Rakesh K Jha; Sujeet Kumar; Chiman Kumari; Sada N Pandey; Muneeb A Faiq

doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2022.09.020

COVID-19 vaccination may enhance hippocampal neurogenesis in adults

Brain Behav Immun. 2023 Jan:107:87-89. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2022.09.020. Epub 2022 Oct 3.

Authors

Ashutosh Kumar¹, Ravi K Narayan², Pranav Prasoon³, Rakesh K Jha⁴, Sujeet Kumar⁵, Chiman Kumari⁶, Sada N Pandey⁷, Muneeb A Faiq⁸

Affiliations

¹ Etiologically Elusive Disorders Research Network (EEDRN), New Delhi, India; Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Patna, India. Electronic address: drashutoshkumar@aiimspatna.org.
² Etiologically Elusive Disorders Research Network (EEDRN), New Delhi, India; Department of Anatomy, Dr. B.C. Roy Multi Speciality Medical Research Centre, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India.
³ Etiologically Elusive Disorders Research Network (EEDRN), New Delhi, India; Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
⁴ Etiologically Elusive Disorders Research Network (EEDRN), New Delhi, India; Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Patna, India.
⁵ Etiologically Elusive Disorders Research Network (EEDRN), New Delhi, India; Centre for Proteomics and Drug Discovery, Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Maharashtra, India.
⁶ Etiologically Elusive Disorders Research Network (EEDRN), New Delhi, India; Department of Anatomy, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India.
⁷ Etiologically Elusive Disorders Research Network (EEDRN), New Delhi, India; Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, India.
⁸ Etiologically Elusive Disorders Research Network (EEDRN), New Delhi, India; New York University (NYU) Langone Health Center, NYU Robert I Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.

Abstract

Emerging evidence suggests a detrimental impact of COVID-19 illness on the continued hippocampal neurogenesis in adults. In contrast, the existing literature supports an enhancing effect of COVID-19 vaccination on adult hippocampal neurogenesis. Vaccines against respiratory infections, including influenza, have been shown to enhance hippocampal neurogenesis in adult-age animals. We propose that a similar benefit may happen in COVID-19 vaccinated adults. The vaccine-induced enhancement of the hippocampal neurogenesis in adults thus may protect against age-related cognitive decline and mental disorders. It alsohints at an added mental health benefit of the COVID-19 vaccination programs in adults.

Keywords: Acquired immunity; Adult; COVID-19 vaccination; Hippocampus; Neurogenesis.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

COVID-19 Vaccines*
COVID-19* / prevention & control
Humans

Substances

COVID-19 Vaccines