Study shows coronavirus can have long-term effects on the brain

The researchers used a special type of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan to look at the group’s brains. According to the report, previous COVID patients appeared to have ‘significantly higher susceptibility values’ in areas such as the frontal lobe and brainstem.

Researchers also noticed changes to the parts of the brain responsible for regulating hormones and circadian rhythms, which explains why many people feel tired, anxious, and unable to concentrate or sleep properly.

Though much of the long-term effects of catching COVID-19 are still shrouded in mystery, there is also some existing evidence that hints at how the virus can affect other parts of the brain.

A study has already confirmed that COVID is capable of reducing grey matter in the brains of people experiencing severe cases of the illness. When inflamed cells in the body travel to brain tissue and spread inflammation, they can damage brain areas responsible for emotion and memory.

This type of reduced grey matter seen in scans has led doctors to believe that COVID can cause brain shrinkage in some cases.

Not to mention, parts of the brain responsible for memory and scent recognition are closely linked. So it should come as no surprise that many experiencing long COVID complain of not regaining their taste or smell.

A study from the University of Oxford looked at the brains of 785 people between the ages of 51 and 85 has found that COVID had damaged areas of the brain that control our ability to pick up scents.

Still, doctors remain optimistic that our brains could repair the damages caused by COVID over time. To prove this, follow up tests will be needed on groups participating in existing studies.

Doctors also urge that there is more research needed to discover whether the same changes to brain structure can be seen in younger people. As scientific research continues, we’ll be keeping our eye out for any new findings.