A recent scientific study revealed that the effects of the COVID-19 virus are not limited to the respiratory system, but it leaves a persistent impact on the brain.
The effects can extend for long periods even after complete recovery, including in cases that were described as mild or asymptomatic.
The study, conducted by researchers from Griffith University in Australia and published in the journal Brain, Behavior, & Immunity Health, showed that multimodal magnetic resonance imaging analyses detected significant changes in the gray and white matter in the brains of individuals recovered from COVID-19, areas associated with memory, cognitive functions, and overall brain health.
The lead researcher, Dr. Kiran Tabaliya, explained that the scientific team observed differences in brain tissue, neurochemical composition, and the intensity of neural signals, as well as tissue structure, even among individuals who did not suffer severe symptoms during the infection. He indicated that these changes are directly related to the severity of symptoms experienced during the illness.
Tabaliya pointed out that these findings might explain the continued cognitive problems in some recovered individuals, such as memory loss and decreased concentration ability, symptoms that may persist for months or even years after the infection.
The study's findings align with previous warnings issued by the World Health Organization, which stated that the long-term symptoms of COVID-19 still represent a global health challenge, affecting a broad segment of those infected, even after overcoming the acute stage of the disease.
This discovery re-emphasizes the long-term neurological repercussions of the virus and strengthens calls for ongoing health monitoring of recovered individuals, not just assessing recovery from respiratory symptoms.
