A recent study has found that brain injury biomarkers may be the cause of the ongoing symptoms experienced by long COVID patients. This discovery could potentially lead to improved tests and treatments for the condition, offering hope to those who continue to suffer from its effects.
The study analyzed 203 patients who had been hospitalized with COVID-19 or its associated symptoms, comparing their results with those of 60 individuals who did not have the infection. The researchers discovered elevated levels of four brain injury biomarkers in the COVID-19 patients, indicating significant biological changes within their brains.
Interestingly, two of these biomarkers persisted even after the patients had recovered from the COVID-19 infection. This suggests that the brain injury continues to affect individuals even after the virus has been cleared from their bodies. Furthermore, the levels of these biomarkers were found to be even higher in patients who had experienced neurological complications alongside their COVID-19 infection.
Neuroscientist Benedict Michael from the University of Liverpool explains, “Our study shows that markers of brain injury are present in the blood months after COVID-19, and particularly in those who have had a COVID-19-induced brain complication.” This indicates the possibility of ongoing inflammation and injury within the brain that may not be detectable through standard blood tests for inflammation.
The brain complications associated with COVID-19 can range from mild symptoms such as headaches to more severe conditions like seizures, stroke, and encephalitis. Previous research has shown that these consequences can have long-lasting effects on individuals.
The researchers believe that abnormal responses from the immune system may be responsible for the observed signs of brain injury. By gaining a better understanding of these responses and their triggers, new treatments could potentially be developed to alleviate the symptoms experienced by long COVID patients.
It is now evident that COVID-19 has a significant impact on the nervous system, and in some cases, this impact can persist for an extended period. The recent study highlights that the effects of long COVID can be similar to those of brain injuries.
The researchers are currently conducting further investigations into the damage caused by COVID-19 and the associated inflammation. They aim to explore how these factors may lead to cognitive problems and mental health issues in the future.
Long COVID is estimated to affect tens of millions of people worldwide, yet it remains a condition that is not fully understood. Ongoing studies are attempting to identify patterns in its prevalence, which will hopefully provide valuable insights into how to effectively combat it.
Immunologist Leonie Taams from King’s College London states, “This work may help set the stage for elucidating the possible underlying mechanisms of these complications.” The findings of this study have been published in Nature Communications, contributing to the growing body of knowledge surrounding long COVID and its impact on the brain.
