Recent evidence indicates that, while CNS damage contributes to “long COVID”, symptoms such as cognitive changes, mood changes, and fatigue may also be due to inflammatory damage from the COVID-19 infection. Dysregulation of the immune system, mitochondria, metabolic pathways and complement pathway, combined with the activation of human endogenous retrovirus genes stored in our DNA, all converge to create a chronic inflammatory terrain in the brain and the periphery that makes it difficult for long COVID patients to recover.
About the Presenter
Dr. Andrea Gruszecki received her Doctorate in Naturopathy from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine (SWCNM). As a practicing ND, she worked with a variety of patients and has pursued additional studies to ensure the skills necessary to treat the "whole person" using nutrition, physical therapies, education, and mind-body therapies. Her experiences in private practice evolved into an inclusive model of medicine for use by conventional and CAM providers, designed to allow cross-specialty communication among health care providers. She has presented continuing medical education on a variety of subjects, including the gut microbiome, methylation, neurotransmitters, and toxic exposures.
Dr. Gruszecki serves as a clinical consultant for US BioTek Laboratories, writing, researching, and presenting interpretations and information on a variety of health-related subjects. She draws upon years of experience and the latest research during her consultations and is often able to provide novel insights for clinicians.
