New Study Links Brainstem Inflammation to Long COVID Symptoms

Research using advanced MRI technology reveals how severe COVID-19 infections can lead to persistent brainstem inflammation, affecting both physical and mental health.

Researchers from Cambridge and Oxford used ultra-high-resolution 7-Tesla MRI scanners to study the brainstem in patients who had severe COVID-19.
The study found inflammation in key brainstem areas, which may explain prolonged symptoms like fatigue, breathlessness, and anxiety in long COVID sufferers.
This inflammation is attributed to an immune response to the virus rather than direct viral invasion, with more pronounced effects in those with severe initial infections.
Mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, are linked to brainstem abnormalities, highlighting the connection between physical and mental health post-COVID.
The findings could improve understanding and treatment of other conditions involving brainstem inflammation, including multiple sclerosis and dementia.