Researchers assess long-term neurological changes due to COVID

New research shows COVID-19 may be correlated with permanent changes in the human brain.

By analyzing MRI scans six months after the patient had recovered from COVID-19, the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) researchers identified long-term We have started to investigate serious psychiatric complications.

The study is an effort to better understand reported symptoms mostly associated with the ‘long COVID’ such as difficulty concentrating, headaches, sleep disturbances, tingling sensations, depression and anxiety.

“Despite several case reports demonstrating such abnormalities, no group-level studies have so far focused on COVID-19-induced changes in brain susceptibility,” said co-author of the study. Sapna S. Mishra said in an RSNA press release.

“Our study highlights this novel aspect of the neurological effects of COVID-19 and reports significant abnormalities in COVID survivors.”

By analyzing advanced brain imaging and assessing susceptibility to changes in blood, iron, and calcium, this study aims to detect and monitor various neurological conditions such as vascular malformations, brain tumors, stroke, and microhemorrhages. was intended.

Researchers evaluated imaging data from 46 patients who had recovered from COVID (all within 6 months of recovery) and 30 scans from patients who had no recent COVID infection.

Results showed that patients who recovered from COVID-19 had subtle changes in their frontal lobes and brainstem compared to healthy controls. The clusters obtained in the frontal lobe show mainly white matter differences.

“These brain regions are associated with fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, depression, headaches, and cognitive impairment,” Mishra said.

According to the press release, the researchers also found significant differences in the “right ventral diencephalon” of the brainstem, a region associated with the release of hormones, sensory and motor signals to the cerebral cortex, and regulation of circadian rhythms. I found

“This study shows serious long-term complications that can be caused by coronavirus, even months after recovering from infection,” Mishra said.

“The current findings are from a small timeframe. However, whether there are lasting changes will become apparent at longitudinal timepoints over several years.”