Severe Covid Can Inflame Brainstem, Leading to Long-Term Symptoms

The Covid-19 pandemic has continually revealed unexpected challenges and mysteries for the scientific community. Among these is the startling discovery that severe Covid infections can inflame the brain’s “control centre,” the brainstem. Not only does this finding illuminate potential reasons for long-term symptoms in patients, but it also opens new avenues for understanding the virus’s impact on our most vital systems.

High-resolution MRI scans of 30 individuals who were hospitalized with severe Covid-19 before the introduction of vaccines showed signs of inflammation in the brainstem. This small yet crucial structure is responsible for managing life-sustaining functions like breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. These scans suggest that the immune response triggered by severe Covid infections can lead to significant inflammation in this area, possibly explaining the persistent symptoms such as breathlessness and fatigue that many individuals continue to experience long after hospitalization.

Dr. Catarina Rua, a neuroscientist at the University of Cambridge and the first author of the study, emphasized the connection between the brainstem’s abnormalities and the persistent symptoms reported by patients. “The fact that we see abnormalities in the parts of the brain associated with breathing strongly suggests that long-lasting symptoms are an effect of inflammation in the brainstem following Covid-19 infection,” Rua explained.

This research began before the term “long Covid” became widely known. Long Covid is now recognized as a chronic post-viral illness affecting millions worldwide, with symptoms alarmingly similar to those documented in the studied patients. Although this specific study did not include individuals with long Covid, Rua noted the similarities in symptoms, raising critical questions about whether those with long Covid also experience brainstem changes.

Utilizing powerful 7 Tesla MRI scanners, Rua and her team were able to detect microstructural abnormalities and inflammation in the brainstem tissue of the patients. Importantly, these alterations remained visible in scans taken more than six months post-hospitalization, highlighting the long-term impact of such severe infections.

Intriguingly, the study also pointed to a possible link between brainstem inflammation and mental health issues post-Covid. Patients exhibiting the highest levels of inflammation also faced more severe depression and anxiety, underlining the complexity of the virus’s effects as published in the journal Brain.

Professor Paul Mullins, a neuroimaging expert at the University of Bangor, noted that while the research doesn’t conclusively identify the causes of long Covid, it suggests inflammation as a key suspect. “It is not clear that this shows much in the way of possible treatments for long Covid once it has occurred, but it perhaps does point to the need to reduce inflammatory responses during initial Covid infection and response,” Mullins stated.

The findings from this study underscore a crucial necessity in managing severe Covid cases and further investigating long-term effects, potentially guiding future treatment strategies and interventions. As researchers continue to explore these pathways, understanding the intricate ways Covid-19 affects our bodies remains a significant priority.

This compelling evidence offers an essential perspective on the profound impacts of Covid-19 on the human brain and highlights the importance of early intervention and ongoing support for those grappling with long-term consequences of the virus.