Co-ultramicronized Palmitoylethanolamide/luteolin Normalizes GABA-ergic Activity and Cortical Plasticity in Long COVID-19 Syndrome

Overview

Journal Clin Neurophysiol

Publisher Elsevier

Specialties Neurology
Psychiatry

Date 2022 Dec 1

PMID 36455453

Authors

Viviana Versace

Paola Ortelli

Sabrina Dezi

Davide Ferrazzoli

Alessia Alibardi

Ilenia Bonini

Michael Engl

Roberto Maestri

Martina Assogna

Valentina Ajello

Elke Pucks-Faes

Leopold Saltuari

Luca Sebastianelli

Markus Kofler

Giacomo Koch

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) studies showed that patients with cognitive dysfunction and fatigue after COVID-19 exhibit impaired cortical GABAergic activity, as revealed by reduced long-interval intracortical inhibition (LICI). Aim of this study was to test the effects of co-ultramicronized palmitoylethanolamide/luteolin (PEA-LUT), an endocannabinoid-like mediator able to enhance GABA-ergic transmission and to reduce neuroinflammation, on LICI.

Methods: Thirty-nine patients (26 females, mean age 49.9 ± 11.4 years, mean time from infection 296.7 ± 112.3 days) suffering from persistent cognitive difficulties and fatigue after mild COVID-19 were randomly assigned to receive either PEA-LUT 700 mg + 70 mg or PLACEBO, administered orally bid for eight weeks. The day before (PRE) and at the end of the treatment (POST), they underwent TMS protocols to assess LICI. We further evaluate short-latency afferent inhibition (SAI) and long-term potentiation (LTP)-like cortical plasticity.

Results: Patients treated with PEA-LUT but not with PLACEBO showed a significant increase of LICI and LTP-like cortical plasticity. SAI remained unaffected.

Conclusions: Eight weeks of treatment with PEA-LUT restore GABA activity and cortical plasticity in long Covid patients.

Significance: This study confirms altered physiology of the motor cortex in long COVID-19 syndrome and indicates PEA-LUT as a candidate for the treatment of this post-viral condition.

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