Brain Changes Linked to Long COVID and Chronic Fatigue Explored in New Australian Study
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jan 14, 2025 13 hours, 21 minutes ago
Medical News: A recent study has shed light on the underlying brain changes in individuals suffering from Long COVID and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). Conducted by researchers at Griffith University's National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases in Australia and the University of Queensland, this research utilized advanced imaging techniques to explore changes in specific brain regions. The findings could help explain some of the debilitating symptoms shared by individuals with these conditions.
.jpg)
Brain Changes Linked to Long COVID and Chronic Fatigue Explored in New Australian Study
Long COVID and ME/CFS are both characterized by symptoms such as persistent fatigue, neurocognitive impairment, and post-exertional malaise. This
Medical News report highlights a key discovery about the hippocampus, a brain region critical for memory and learning, and its role in these illnesses.
Unveiling the Science
The study involved 61 participants, including 17 Long COVID patients, 29 ME/CFS patients, and 15 healthy controls. Advanced imaging using a 7 Tesla MRI scanner was employed to measure subfield volumes within the hippocampus. The study's focus on subfield-specific changes is notable because such granular analysis had not been previously conducted for Long COVID.
Researchers found that the left hippocampal subfields of Long COVID and ME/CFS patients exhibited significant enlargement compared to healthy individuals. Key regions affected included the subiculum head, presubiculum head, molecular layer hippocampus head, and the entire hippocampal head. These structural changes were consistent across both patient groups, suggesting a shared neurological basis for their symptoms.
Linking Brain Structure and Symptoms
One of the most compelling aspects of the research was the correlation between hippocampal changes and the severity of various symptoms. For example, the severity of fatigue, impaired concentration, and unrefreshing sleep were strongly associated with alterations in specific hippocampal subfields. This relationship underscores the potential role of these brain changes in the day-to-day challenges faced by patients.
For Long COVID patients, smaller hippocampal subfields were linked to more severe symptoms of unrefreshing sleep and fatigue. Similarly, ME/CFS patients showed correlations between altered hippocampal volumes and pain, concentration difficulties, and physical function impairments. These findings highlight the multifaceted impact of brain changes on the overall symptom profile.
Understanding the Hippocampus
The hippocampus plays a vital role in memory formation, spatial navigation, and emotional regulation. It is divided into various subfields, each contributing to specific functions. Alterations in the hippocampus have been previously linked to neurodegenerative diseases, but this study provides new insights into how these changes manifest in post-viral and fatigue-related conditions.
&l
t;br />
Interestingly, the enlarged hippocampal subfields observed in the study might represent a compensatory mechanism. Increased neurogenesis, or the generation of new neurons, could be a response to chronic stress or injury. This hypothesis aligns with other studies that suggest the brain adapts structurally in response to sustained stress or inflammation.
Implications for Long COVID and ME/CFS
The shared hippocampal changes between Long COVID and ME/CFS patients reinforce the idea that these conditions might have overlapping pathological mechanisms. Such insights are crucial for developing targeted treatments that address the root causes rather than just the symptoms.
Long COVID has become a growing public health concern, with estimates suggesting that up to 10% of COVID-19 survivors experience lingering symptoms. Similarly, ME/CFS has long been a debilitating condition for many, with limited treatment options. Understanding their neurological underpinnings could pave the way for breakthroughs in treatment.
Conclusions and Future Directions
The study concludes that structural changes in the hippocampus are a significant factor in the neurocognitive symptoms experienced by Long COVID and ME/CFS patients. While the findings are compelling, the researchers acknowledge some limitations. The study was cross-sectional, meaning it captured data at a single point in time. Longitudinal research is needed to track how these brain changes evolve over time and whether they are reversible.
In addition, while the study highlighted associations between brain changes and symptom severity, the exact mechanisms driving these changes remain unclear.
Future research could explore the role of inflammation, immune dysregulation, and stress in shaping hippocampal structure.
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal PLOS ONE
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0316625
For the latest COVID-19 News, keep on logging to Thailand
Medical News.
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/latest-american-study-validates-that-brain-changes-linked-to-long-covid-symptoms
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/post-covid-19-brain-changes-unveiled-through-mri-insights
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/canadian-study-finds-brain-structural-changes-in-long-covid-patients-that-are-possibly-induced-by-edema-or-gliosis
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/study-shockingly-finds-that-those-who-develop-anosmia-during-covid-19-actually-end-up-with-brain-changes
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/coronavirus
Share
Tweet
Share
