Scientists alarmed by the effects of COVID-19 on the brain

COVID-19 affects not only the respiratory system, but can also cause long-term changes in the brain even in people who have fully recovered from the infection. This conclusion was reached by scientists from the National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases at Griffith University, who studied the consequences of coronavirus using modern MRI methods.

As reported by BAKU.WS, the work was published in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity - Health (BBIH).

Researchers compared the brain condition of people with long COVID-19, those who had recovered and considered themselves fully healed, as well as participants who had never been infected with the virus. The analysis showed that the infection can leave measurable changes in brain structures, even in the absence of pronounced symptoms.

The study used multimodal methods of magnetic resonance imaging, allowing simultaneous assessment of gray and white matter, as well as biochemical processes in brain tissues. These areas play a key role in memory, cognitive functions, and overall health of the central nervous system.

"We applied a comprehensive MRI approach to study brain regions critical for cognitive processes, and found clear differences between all groups of participants," said the lead author of the study, Dr. Kiran Thapaliya.

According to him, the analysis revealed significant changes in the neurochemical composition of the brain, MR signal intensity, and tissue structure not only in patients with long COVID-19, but also in those who considered themselves fully recovered from the illness.

In addition, researchers found a connection between changes in brain tissue and the severity of symptoms in people with long COVID-19. This indicates that the virus may have a small but prolonged effect on brain health.