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... The average estimated effect of the virus on beta amyloid proteins was comparable to the effect from four years of aging, researchers found.

The difference was most pronounced in patients who'd been hospitalized with severe COVID-19, the study found, or in those with underlying risk factors for dementia, like high blood pressure.

These results hint at yet another insidious effect of COVID, the researchers write, suggesting even mild or moderate cases might speed up biological processes promoting the accumulation of beta amyloid proteins, which previous research has linked with Alzheimer's.

There are important caveats to note, however. For one, this was an observational study, so it can establish correlation but not causation. ...