Regular monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 carriage and antibody levels against the virus helped maintain social interactions for Alzheimer's disease residents in a Belgian nursing home during the pandemic. - 2025
Regular monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 carriage and antibody levels against the virus helped maintain social interactions for Alzheimer's disease residents in a Belgian nursing home during the pandemic.
Tytgat, Amandine; Diep, Anh Nguyet; Flamme, Florenceet al.
2025 • In Journal of Alzheimer's Disease Reports, 9, p. 25424823251377732
Alzheimer's disease; SARS-CoV-2; immunity; nursing home; salivary diagnostic test
Abstract :
[en] BACKGROUND: People suffering from Alzheimer's disease and related disorders (ADRD) were severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, both physically and mentally.
OBJECTIVE: This one-year study aimed to implement a protocol for controlling the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in a Belgian nursing home hosting exclusively patients suffering from ADRD, while minimizing pandemic-associated constraints.
METHODS: After confirming the absence of positive cases in the nursing home and the development of a proper immunity against SARS-CoV-2, the staff members enrolled in the study were allowed to remove their mask. Then, a weekly non-invasive saliva RT-qPCR testing for SARS-CoV-2 detection was implemented to detect cases among the staff and residents. A monthly serological monitoring was set up to follow the levels of neutralizing and IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.
RESULTS: Three waves of COVID-19 infection were observed and quickly contained thanks to an effective quarantine policy. We confirmed the stronger humoral response developed by people infected before primo-vaccination compared to naïve-vaccinated ones and the weaker immune response of elderly individuals compared to younger participants, a difference abolished by booster. In parallel, we showed that ADRD people were able to develop a similar humoral response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination or infection to that of people of similar age not suffering from these diseases.
CONCLUSIONS: We show that a strict protocol aimed at early case detection and anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunity follow-up has enabled ADRD residents from a Belgian nursing home to maintain social interactions thanks to the ability of study participants to remove masks, while minimizing the risk of infection.
Disciplines :
Immunology & infectious disease
Author, co-author :
Tytgat, Amandine ; Université de Liège - ULiège > GIGA > GIGA Immunobiology - Cellular and Molecular Immunology
Diep, Anh Nguyet ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Santé publique : de la Biostatistique à la Promotion de la Santé
Dupas, Marie-Cécile; Laboratory of Spatial Epidemiology, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
Artois, Jean; Laboratory of Spatial Epidemiology, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
Fory, Martine; "Maison Vesale", Brussels, Belgium
Dandoy, Margaux ; Université de Liège - ULiège > HEC Liège : UER > UER Management : Social Entrepreneurship
Damseaux, Frédérique ; Université de Liège - ULiège > GIGA > GIGA Immunobiology - Cellular and Molecular Immunology
Garigliany, Mutien-Marie ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de morphologie et pathologie (DMP) > Pathologie générale et autopsies
Desmecht, Daniel ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de morphologie et pathologie (DMP) > Pathologie spéciale et autopsies
Hayette, Marie-Pierre ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences biomédicales et précliniques > Bactériologie, mycologie, parasitologie, virologie et microbiologie
Sabatel, Catherine ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences fonctionnelles (DSF) > Biochimie et biologie moléculaire
✱ These authors have contributed equally to this work.
Language :
English
Title :
Regular monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 carriage and antibody levels against the virus helped maintain social interactions for Alzheimer's disease residents in a Belgian nursing home during the pandemic.
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