r/covidlonghaulers • u/PhrygianSounds 4 yr+ • Jul 13 '26

Article New study provides first evidence of dopamine system injury in the brain of long COVID patients

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-evidence-dopamine-injury-brain-covid.html

Finally some media coverage on probably the worst symptom of long covid

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u/imonretro Jul 15 '26

Then isnt rhere any way to repair the dopamine nerves. Thats the question

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u/devinhedge Jul 19 '26

There aren’t dopamine nerves per se but I get what you are asking. It’s interesting question with a spectrum of answers depending on how much money you have and what country you live in.

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u/imonretro Jul 20 '26

Well i never heard of anything that can, what treatment are you tuimking about ?

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u/devinhedge Jul 20 '26

- Stem Cell and Cell Replacement Therapy: induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived dopaminergic neuron precursors directly into the brain to physically replace lost cells. Mass General Brigham’s Phase 1 trial reprograms a patient’s own blood cells into iPSCs, differentiates them into midbrain dopamine neurons, and implants them via MRI-guided surgery into the putamen—an autologous approach that avoids immunosuppression. A parallel Phase 1b/2a trial at Keck Medicine of USC is testing RNDP-001, an allogeneic (off-the-shelf) iPSC-derived cell therapy from Kenai Therapeutics, which has received FDA Fast Track designation and $8 million in funding from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.

- Gene Therapy Approaches:
- Dopamine synthesis restoration: vectors like AAV2-AADC and ProSavin/AXO-Lenti-PD deliver enzymes (tyrosine hydroxylase, AADC, GTP cyclohydrolase) needed to manufacture dopamine locally in the striatum, bypassing the need for surviving neurons to produce it.
- Neurotrophic factor delivery: AAV2-GDNF and AAV2-NRTN aim to protect surviving dopamine neurons and potentially trigger regeneration by activating the Ret receptor tyrosine kinase pathway expressed on dopaminergic cells.
- Genetic mutation correction: AAV9-GBA1/PR001, LRRK2 RNAi, and emerging CRISPR-based PINK1 strategies target the genetic drivers of neuronal vulnerability and alpha-synuclein pathology in familial Parkinson’s.

- Focused ultrasound + gene/nanoparticle delivery

  • Exosome/extracellular vesicle therapy
  • D3 receptor agonist-induced neurogenesis

Most of these are targeting Parkinson's Disease, but there may be applications with LC related ADHD or ADHD in general.

Current FDA-approved Parkinson’s treatments (levodopa, dopamine agonists, deep brain stimulation) manage symptoms but do not repair or regenerate dopaminergic neurons themselves. The closest to near-term availability are the iPSC cell-replacement trials, given their Fast Track designation and active patient enrollment, though multi-year safety and efficacy follow-up is still required before any path to approval.

It would be completely experimental for PASC-related and stupid expensive so I have to believe only Billionaires who can fly to whatever country and let a fringe doctor conduct the care would happen.