SARS-CoV-2 spike protein causes synaptic dysfunction and p-tau and α-synuclein aggregation leading cognitive impairment: The protective role of metformin

Hye-Kyung Lee; Ji Young Choi; Jung Hyun Park; Moon Han Chang; Jung Ho Park; Young Ho Koh

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0336015

Loading metrics

Open Access

Peer-reviewed

Research Article

SARS-CoV-2 spike protein causes synaptic dysfunction and p-tau and α-synuclein aggregation leading cognitive impairment: The protective role of metformin

Hye-Kyung Lee,

Roles Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Validation, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing

Affiliation Division of Brain Diseases Research, Department of Chronic Disease Convergence Research, Korea National Institute of Health, Cheongju-si, Republic of Korea

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8633-6124

⨯
Ji Young Choi,

Roles Conceptualization, Writing – original draft

Affiliation Division of Brain Diseases Research, Department of Chronic Disease Convergence Research, Korea National Institute of Health, Cheongju-si, Republic of Korea
⨯
Jung Hyun Park,

Roles Investigation, Validation

Affiliation Division of Brain Diseases Research, Department of Chronic Disease Convergence Research, Korea National Institute of Health, Cheongju-si, Republic of Korea
⨯
Moon Han Chang,

Roles Investigation, Validation

Affiliation Division of Brain Diseases Research, Department of Chronic Disease Convergence Research, Korea National Institute of Health, Cheongju-si, Republic of Korea
⨯
Jung Ho Park,

Roles Investigation, Validation

Affiliation Nexmos Inc., Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
⨯
Young Ho Koh

Roles Funding acquisition, Project administration, Supervision

* E-mail: kohyoungho122@gmail.com

Affiliation Division of Brain Diseases Research, Department of Chronic Disease Convergence Research, Korea National Institute of Health, Cheongju-si, Republic of Korea

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9934-5321

⨯

SARS-CoV-2 spike protein causes synaptic dysfunction and p-tau and α-synuclein aggregation leading cognitive impairment: The protective role of metformin

Hye-Kyung Lee,
Ji Young Choi,
Jung Hyun Park,
Moon Han Chang,
Jung Ho Park,
Young Ho Koh

Published: November 7, 2025
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0336015

Reader Comments (0)

Post a new comment on this article

Subject Areas
?

For more information about PLOS Subject Areas, click here.
We want your feedback. Do these Subject Areas make sense for this article? Click the target next to the incorrect Subject Area and let us know. Thanks for your help!

Hippocampus
Is the Subject Area "Hippocampus" applicable to this article?

Thanks for your feedback.
SARS CoV 2
Is the Subject Area "SARS CoV 2" applicable to this article?

Thanks for your feedback.
Gene expression
Is the Subject Area "Gene expression" applicable to this article?

Thanks for your feedback.
Cognitive impairment
Is the Subject Area "Cognitive impairment" applicable to this article?

Thanks for your feedback.
COVID 19
Is the Subject Area "COVID 19" applicable to this article?

Thanks for your feedback.
Synaptic plasticity
Is the Subject Area "Synaptic plasticity" applicable to this article?

Thanks for your feedback.
Gene ontologies
Is the Subject Area "Gene ontologies" applicable to this article?

Thanks for your feedback.
Neuropathy
Is the Subject Area "Neuropathy" applicable to this article?

Thanks for your feedback.