“A study suggests that damage to the brainstem, the brains control center, may be responsible for the long-lasting physical and psychiatric effects of severe Covid-19 infection.”

Researchers from the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford found that damage to the brainstem, often called the brains "control center," is responsible for the long-lasting physical and psychiatric effects seen in severe COVID-19 cases.

Before vaccines were available, the study used ultra-high-resolution scans on the brains of 30 individuals hospitalized with severe COVID-19 early in the pandemic. The scans revealed that COVID-19 damages parts of the brainstem linked to breathlessness, fatigue, and anxiety.

The study, published in the journal Brain, provided valuable insights into how Covid-19 affects the brain and the body over the long term. Essential functions of the body such as breathing, heart rate, pain, and blood pressure are regulated by the brainstem which connects the brain to the spinal cord. Functions Clusters of nerve cells within the brainstem, known as nuclei, are responsible for these vital processes.

The brainstem acts as a critical bridge between our conscious awareness and the bodys internal functions. Understanding how COVID-19 changes the brainstem can help scientists better explain and treat the long-term effects of the infection. Early post-mortem studies of patients who died from severe Covid-19 revealed signs of inflammation in their brainstems.

The researchers found abnormalities in multiple brainstem regions, particularly in the medulla oblongata, pons, and midbrain. These abnormalities, consistent with a neuro-inflammatory response, appeared several weeks after hospital admission and affected areas involved in controlling breathing.

The studys findings could also help to understand other brainstem-related conditions, like multiple sclerosis (MS) and dementia. They could be used to monitor the effectiveness of treatments for various brain disorders.

(Source:https://www.news-medical.net/news/20241008/Brainstem-inflammation-may-explain-long-Covid-symptoms.aspx)