Study Reveals Long COVID Brain Fog Linked to Viral-Borne Brain Injury
Brain fog has become a common complaint among patients with long COVID, with symptoms such as memory loss and difficulty concentrating affecting up to 46% of individuals. Now, a groundbreaking study has shed light on the potential cause of these cognitive issues: a viral-borne brain injury that can lead to long-lasting cognitive and mental health problems.
The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Liverpool, examined 351 patients who had been hospitalized with severe COVID-19. One year after contracting the SARS-CoV-2 virus, these patients showed evidence of long-term brain injury. The findings were based on a series of cognitive tests, self-reported symptoms, brain scans, and biomarkers.
The participants underwent a cognition test, and their scores were compared to those of individuals who had not experienced a severe bout of COVID-19. Blood samples were also taken to identify specific biomarkers associated with brain injury. The researchers discovered that elevated levels of these biomarkers were consistent with a brain injury. Additionally, brain scans revealed a reduction in the volume of certain regions of the brain associated with attention.
According to the lead study author, Benedict Michael, PhD, the cognitive deficits observed in COVID-19 patients were equivalent to 20 years of brain aging. This finding confirms doctors’ fears that the virus can cause long-term damage to the brain and result in ongoing mental health issues. Michael stated, “The cognitive and memory problems that patients complained of were associated with neuroanatomical changes to the brain.”
The study also provides validation for patients who have been dismissed by some clinicians, proving that their symptoms are not imaginary. Karla L. Thompson, PhD, lead neuropsychologist at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine’s COVID Recovery Clinic, emphasized the importance of using biomarkers to objectively indicate that the brain has been compromised in some way. Many patients with long COVID have struggled to convince their doctors that their symptoms are physical rather than psychological, with negative interactions reported by up to 79% of study respondents seeking treatment for their long-COVID symptoms.
While the exact cause of these brain injuries is still unknown, researchers have identified some potential factors. Previous studies have suggested that a lack of oxygen to the brain, particularly in hospitalized patients who require ventilators, may contribute to these injuries. Brain scans have shown atrophy in the gray matter of COVID-19 patients’ brains, likely resulting from inflammation caused by an overactive immune response. This inflammation appears to affect the central nervous system. The new study also found that using steroids during hospitalization can have neuroprotective effects by reducing brain inflammation.
James C. Jackson, PsyD, a neuropsychiatrist at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, argues that treating long-COVID brain fog as a brain injury can help patients regain some normalcy. He suggests that therapies commonly used for patients with brain injuries, such as speech, cognitive, and occupational therapy, along with treatment for mental health concerns, can be effective in alleviating long COVID-related cognitive symptoms.
However, there is concern that the brain damage caused by the virus may have long-term consequences, potentially leading to the early onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in vulnerable individuals. A study conducted by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) found that COVID-19 infection accelerated structural and functional brain deterioration in individuals with pre-existing dementia.
The study raises many questions that require further investigation. While it provides concrete evidence of the brain damage caused by severe COVID-19, researchers are unsure about the impact on individuals with milder cases of the virus. Ziyad Al-Aly, MD, chief of research and development at the Veterans Affairs St. Louis Health Care System, expresses concern that some long-COVID patients may be experiencing subtle cognitive deficits that are affecting their daily lives but are not receiving appropriate support.
To better understand the mechanism behind the brain damage caused by the virus and prevent further deterioration, researchers and clinicians need to gain a deeper understanding of how the virus enters the brain and causes structural damage. Anti-inflammatory or antiviral medications may prove effective in preventing inflammation, and steroids could potentially mitigate the damage. Finding answers to these questions is crucial, as SARS-CoV-2 is likely to continue infecting the population.
In conclusion, this groundbreaking study has provided valuable insights into the long-term cognitive effects of COVID-19. It has confirmed that brain fog and other cognitive issues experienced by long COVID patients are not imaginary but rather the result of a viral-borne brain injury. By treating long-COVID brain fog as a brain injury, clinicians can help patients regain their quality of life through appropriate therapies. However, further research is needed to fully understand the impact of the virus on individuals with milder cases and to develop effective treatments to prevent long-term brain damage.
