Ongoing Brain Inflammation Found in Long COVID Patients With Depression and Cognitive Damage
A new insight into Long COVID neuropathology.
A recent worrying study has shed light on an alarming correlation between Long COVID and persistent brain inflammation, propelling us one step closer to understanding this complex medical mystery.
The study, led by Dr. Jeffrey Meyer of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), in collaboration with the University of Toronto, was recently published in the prominent journal, JAMA Psychiatry.
The research has demonstrated significant levels of brain inflammation in individuals experiencing Long COVID. The hallmark of this inflammation is a high concentration of the protein TSPO (translocator protein total distribution volume), a known indicator of brain neuroinflammation.
Employing state-of-the-art positron emission tomography (PET) imaging developed at the CAMH Brain Health Imaging Centre, Dr. Meyer’s team investigated the brains of individuals who reported lingering depressive symptoms after experiencing mild to moderate COVID-19 infection. Notably, all these individuals had their infection confirmed, and their subsequent depressive symptoms persisted for months.
