Covid-19 leaves a lasting mark on the human brain | Hacker News Reader

Covid-19 leaves a lasting mark on the human brain

news.griffith.edu.au

42 pointsamichail16 comments

> Our study identified altered signal intensity, abnormal tissue microstructure, and imbalanced neurochemicals in long COVID and COVID-19 recovered healthy controls.

So, it seems that it has long lasting effects on everybody. The main difference is how severe are that effects.

> Structural MRI studies have also identified alterations in brain morphology among COVID-RHC, including reductions in grey matter volume, thickness and global brain volume when compared with healthy controls

That is scary.

> Furthermore, long-term follow-up studies are crucial to determine whether the identified brain changes are progressive, stable or dynamic over time.

This is interesting, thou. Is it permanent, it gets worse or better? That makes a big difference and it may also justify further studies and actions.

>Importantly, cognitive impairments are not limited to those with ongoing systemic symptoms; they are also evident in COVID-19 recovered individuals (COVID-RHC) who no longer report active symptoms, compared to healthy controls without SARS-CoV-2 infection (Non-COVID-HC) (Hampshire et al., 2021)

The finding was done in 2021, it's not clear to me if it's an issue years out or it's just a manifestation of post-viral syndrome. Also today there are unlikely to be any people who haven't been infected by sars-cov2

> Also today there are unlikely to be any people who haven't been infected by sars-cov2

We do exist... ;-)

Most covid19 infections are asymptomatic so unless you treat every day you can't know;)

Well, even the antibody titre isn't foolproof (some people do not react or have their immune system later wiped). However having no antibody titre is pretty good sign you never had it. Not sure if there's a portable cheap blood test for it yet. Should be one, like for the active disease.

I heard antibodies are not permanent? not sure

Yep. Anybody who wears a well-fitting N95 wherever they go is in a rather safe place.

Breakthrough infections are still technically possible, but quite unlikely.

> Is it permanent, it gets worse or better? That makes a big difference and it may also justify further studies and actions.

Some symptoms of long COVID do lessen over time. The problem is that anybody who doesn't take adequate preventative measures (vast majority) are constantly re-infecting themselves every 6-12 months, so their body never has a chance to recover.

Even vaccinated individuals are not safe. The only real protection is regular use of a well fitting N95 in public spaces, and making sure everyone in your household does the same.

Brain matter losses don’t usually get better.

The article doesn't say what those lasting marks are, nor their possible effects. Does anyone have any details on that?

They link to the paper in the article: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266635462...

Still fairly non specific, as science probably should be (the question was if there visible MRI detectable changes, not what specific downstream changes were apparent)

Interesting that if we can detect some of these changes with covid what other viruses might be doing to us up there.

This sounds a bit like the opening scene of something science fiction-ey dreadful. Like, even Pluribus.

Similar changes from taking the vaccine?

> The NCNED brings together a critical mass of talented researchers and clinicians committed to improving the lives of the patients.

Of course, improving the lives of patients for $$$!

First you have to convince people that they have a problem, and their insurers that it's covered.

It's the perfect disease. Scare people into suspecting they have it. All the hypochondriacs will believe it. It's difficult to measure and impossible to confirm recovery; you can milk that cow to kingdom come.

It's not US Pharma here, it's an Australian University (a country that actively works to keep health costs low and outcomes high) doing work funded by two outcomes orientated charities:

* https://qbi.uq.edu.au/stafford-fox-medical-research-foundati...

* https://www.meresearch.org.uk/

It's difficult to see a Martin Shkreli exploiting warped U.S. regulatory incentives parallel.

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