Brainstem damage linked to long-term physical, mental effects of COVID-19
New research indicates that brainstem damage may be the cause of ongoing symptoms in severe COVID-19 survivors, affecting functions such as breathing and anxiety.
in short
- COVID-19 may damage the brain system that controls breathing, heart rate and anxiety
- The brainstem is the part that connects the brain to the spinal cord.
- Researchers analyzed MRI scans of 30 people infected with Covid-19
A new study suggests that damage to the brainstem, which connects the brain to the spinal cord and acts as the brain’s “control center,” is responsible for long-term physical and mental effects in those with Maybe those who were seriously suffering from Covid-19.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford used advanced MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scanners to study the brains of 30 people who were hospitalized with severe Covid-19 during the early days of the pandemic.
They found that COVID-19 can damage the brain system that controls basic functions like breathing, heart rate and anxiety. The findings of this study have been published in the journal Brain.
The study suggests that damage to this part of the brain may explain why some people continue to experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue and anxiety even after COVID-19 infection has passed.
The team used special MRI scanners, called 7-Tesla or 7T scanners, that can see tiny details in the brain and detect inflammation.
These scans revealed abnormalities in several parts of the brainstem, particularly in areas responsible for breathing. These abnormalities were found to be more common in people who had severe COVID-19, and they appeared weeks after initial infection.
The research team believes that these changes are likely caused by the body’s immune response to the virus, rather than the virus directly attacking the brain.
In addition to physical symptoms, the study also found that patients who had a more severe immune response to COVID-19 had higher levels of depression and anxiety.
This highlights the close relationship between physical and mental health and the impact of COVID-19 on both.
The researchers hope their findings will help doctors better understand the long-term effects of COVID-19 and improve treatment for those affected.
The results may also be useful in understanding other brain conditions, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and dementia. 7T scanners can also help doctors track how effective different treatments are for these brain diseases.
The study was a collaborative effort during the peak of the pandemic, and researchers were impressed by how well the 7T scanner performed in scanning even the sickest patients.
