Scientists discovered alarming impact of COVID-19 on the brain

Scientists discovered: COVID-19 leaves "traces" in the brain even after complete recovery. Researchers from Griffith University, using advanced MRI methods, identified structural changes in the brain of people who had coronavirus infection, despite the absence of obvious symptoms.

As reported by TUT.AZ, the research results are published in the authoritative scientific journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity - Health (BBIH).

Specialists from the National Center for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases conducted a comparative analysis of brain conditions in three groups: patients with long COVID-19, people who consider themselves fully recovered, and those who have never had coronavirus. Surprisingly, even fully recovered participants showed measurable changes in brain structures.

The study was conducted using multimodal MRI techniques, which allowed scientists to simultaneously assess the condition of gray and white matter, as well as study biochemical processes in brain tissues. These areas are responsible for memory, cognitive functions, and the 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 study's lead author, Dr. Kiran Thapalia.

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.

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