Overview: Neuroimaging studies have revealed profound brain changes in areas associated with language comprehension, cognition, and circadian rhythm control 6 months after COVID-19 infection.
sauce: RSNA
Using a special type of MRI, researchers will be able to visualize the brains of patients up to six months after they have recovered from COVID-19, according to a study to be presented next week at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting. revealed the changes.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1 in 5 adults will experience long-term effects from COVID-19. Her long-term COVID-related neurological symptoms include difficulty thinking and concentrating, headaches, trouble sleeping, lightheadedness, tingling sensations, changes in smell and taste, depression and anxiety. But studies have found that even in asymptomatic patients, COVID-19 can be associated with changes in the heart, lungs, or other organs.
As more people contract and recover from COVID-19, research is beginning to focus on the lasting effects of the disease.
In this study, researchers used susceptibility-weighted imaging to analyze the effects of COVID-19 on the brain. Magnetic susceptibility indicates how much a particular substance, such as blood, iron, or calcium, becomes magnetized in an applied magnetic field. This ability is useful in detecting and monitoring many neurological conditions, such as microhemorrhages, vascular malformations, brain tumors, and stroke.
“Group-level studies have so far not focused on brain susceptibility changes due to COVID-19, despite several case reports suggesting such abnormalities.” India, Delhi Candidate for engineering college. “Our study highlights this novel aspect of the neurological effects of COVID-19 and reports significant abnormalities in COVID survivors.”
The researchers analyzed susceptibility-weighted imaging data from 46 patients who had recovered from COVID and 30 healthy controls. Imaging was performed within 6 months after recovery. The most commonly reported symptoms among patients with long-term COVID-19 were fatigue, sleep disturbances, attention deficits, and memory problems.
“Changes in brain region susceptibility values may indicate local compositional changes,” Mishra said. “While susceptibility may reflect the presence of abnormal amounts of paramagnetic compounds, reduced susceptibility may be caused by anomalies such as calcification or lack of paramagnetic molecules, including iron. .”
MRI results showed that patients who recovered from COVID-19 had significantly higher frontal lobe and brainstem susceptibility values compared to healthy controls. The clusters obtained in the frontal lobe show mainly white matter differences.
“These brain regions are associated with fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, depression, headaches, and cognitive impairment,” Mishra said.
part of the left infraorbital frontal gyrus (important region for language comprehension and production) and right infraorbital frontal gyrus (related to various cognitive functions including attention, motor inhibition, imagery, and social cognitive processes) White matter regions that make up adjacent frontal lobe clusters.
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The researchers also found significant differences in the right ventral diencephalon region of the brainstem. This region is involved in many important bodily functions, such as coordinating with the endocrine system to release hormones, relaying sensory and motor signals to the cerebral cortex, and regulating circadian rhythms (sleep-wake cycles). I’m here.
“This study shows serious long-term complications that can be caused by coronavirus, even months after recovering from infection,” Mishra said. It’s from a small time window, but whether there are any permanent changes will become apparent at long-term time points over several years.”
The researchers are conducting a longitudinal study in the same patient cohort to determine whether these brain abnormalities persist over longer timeframes.
Co-authors are Rakibul Hafiz, Ph.D., Tapan Gandhi, Ph.D., Vidur Mahajan, MBBS, Alok Prasad, MD, and Bharat Biswal, Ph.D.
About this Neurology and COVID-19 Research News
author: Linda Brooks
sauce: RSNA
contact: Linda Brooks – RSNA
image: Images credited to RSNA and Sapna S. Mishra
Original research: The findings will be presented at the 108th Scientific and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.
