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Dublin, Ireland – February 23, 2024
In a significant breakthrough, scientists from Trinity College Dublin have unveiled a crucial finding regarding Long Covid, shedding light on the underlying cause of ‘brain fog’ and cognitive decline observed in many patients.
The team’s research, published in the prestigious journal Nature Neuroscience, showcases a groundbreaking discovery of blood vessel disruption within the brains of Long Covid patients suffering from ‘brain fog’. This disruption, characterized by blood vessel “leakiness,” serves as a distinguishing feature between patients with and without cognitive decline.
Lead researcher Prof. Matthew Campbell, Professor in Genetics and Head of Genetics at Trinity College Dublin, expressed the significance of this finding, stating, “For the first time, we have been able to show that leaky blood vessels in the human brain, in tandem with a hyperactive immune system, may be the key drivers of brain fog associated with Long Covid. This is critically important, as understanding the underlying cause of these conditions will allow us to develop targeted therapies for patients in the future.”
The study also introduced a novel form of MRI scan that offers insights into how Long Covid impacts the delicate network of blood vessels in the human brain.
Prof. Colin Doherty, Professor of Neurology and Head of the School of Medicine at Trinity, emphasized the transformative nature of these findings, stating, “The findings will now likely change the landscape of how we understand and treat post-viral neurological conditions. It also confirms that the neurological symptoms of Long Covid are measurable with real and demonstrable metabolic and vascular changes in the brain.”
The research underscores a growing understanding that viral infections, such as Long Covid, may trigger neurological conditions, echoing similar observations in diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS). Prof. Campbell noted that this concept could potentially revolutionize the understanding and treatment of post-viral syndromes.
Long Covid, which has emerged as a major public health concern since the onset of the pandemic in 2020, affects up to 10 percent of individuals infected with the SARS-CoV2 virus. Of these patients, nearly half report lingering neurological effects, including cognitive decline, fatigue, and ‘brain fog’.
While Long Covid presents a diverse array of symptoms, including fatigue, shortness of breath, and joint/muscle pain, the study’s findings provide a crucial step towards unraveling the complexities of this condition and developing targeted interventions to alleviate its debilitating effects.
The team at Trinity College Dublin remains committed to further investigating the neurological implications of Long Covid, offering hope for improved understanding and management of this persistent and challenging condition.
