A groundbreaking Australian study has uncovered significant brain structure changes in patients with long Covid and chronic fatigue syndrome. Researchers found larger hippocampus volumes that may contribute to cognitive challenges like memory problems and concentration difficulties. The study, published in PLOS ONE, analyzed brain scans of 61 patients using advanced MRI technology. These findings could potentially open new pathways for understanding and treating both conditions by highlighting their neurological similarities.
"Hippocampal
impairment may play a significant role in cognitive difficulties" - Kiran
Thapaliya, Lead Researcher
Patients
with Long Covid and chronic fatigue tend to have swelling in an area of the
brain associated with memory and concentration, according to a study published
on Tuesday.
Key
Points
1
Griffith University study reveals hippocampus volume changes in long Covid
patients
2
Brain swelling linked to memory and concentration issues
3 Research suggests potential shared mechanisms between long Covid and chronic fatigue.
Researchers
from Griffith University in Australia used an ultra-high-field magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI) machine to analyse how long Covid and myalgic
encephalomyelitis -- also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) -- similarly
impact brain structure, Xinhua news agency reported.
The
research involved 17 long Covid patients, 29 CFS patients, and 15 people with
neither condition. The team identified significantly larger hippocampus volume
in long Covid and CFS patients compared to healthy individuals.
The
hippocampus is a small but important part of the brain that helps with learning
and converting short-term memories into long-term memories, as well as verbal
and spatial memory.
The
research, published in the scientific journal PLOS ONE, found that hippocampal
volume was similar among long Covid and CFS patients and that hippocampal
swelling was linked to symptom severity in both groups.
Kiran
Thapaliya, lead author of the new study, said that the findings show that
hippocampal impairment in long Covid and CFS patients "may play a
significant role in cognitive difficulties such as memory problems, difficulty
concentrating, and delayed responses to questions or conversations."
He
said that the larger volume could be caused by neurogenesis -- the process by
which new cells are formed in the brain -- or by a virus in the brain.
Further,
the study also found the size of the hippocampus was associated with symptom severity
in both patient groups.
People
with high hippocampus volume had “impaired concentration, unrestorative sleep,
pain, and fatigue," Thapaliya said.
The
researchers noted that the overlap between CFS and long Covid may pave the way
for exploring potential treatments for both conditions.
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