Irish Researchers Unveil Definitive Findings on Long COVID Effects

Dublin: In a groundbreaking development, researchers in Ireland have made significant strides in understanding long COVID, particularly its manifestation of brain fog. Scientists at Trinity College Dublin have pinpointed the underlying causes of this cognitive impairment in chronic COVID patients.

Their findings, published in Nature Neuroscience, reveal that brain fog in long Covid sufferers stems from an overactive immune system and compromised blood vessels in the brain. This phenomenon adversely affects cognitive functions such as thinking ability, memory, and concentration. The discovery holds promise for informing future treatments for COVID-related conditions.

The research indicates that long Covid disrupts the integrity of blood vessels in the brain, with patients exhibiting ruptured vessels experiencing cognitive dullness. Those without such issues did not display similar neurological complications.

Matthew Campbell, Professor of Genetics at Trinity and lead investigator of Future Neuro, emphasised the groundbreaking nature of their discovery, stating, “This is the first time we have demonstrated that an overactive immune system can cause blood vessels in the human brain to rupture.”

Colin Doherty, Professor of Neurology and head of Trinity’s School of Medicine and another principal investigator of Future Neuro, highlighted the transformative potential of the findings, suggesting that they could reshape understanding and treatment approaches for post-viral neurological conditions. The research underscores that long-term COVID neurological symptoms are attributable to metabolic and vascular alterations in the brain.

Symptoms commonly associated with long COVID include fatigue, shortness of breath, memory and cognitive issues, and joint/muscle pain, persisting for more than 12 weeks post-COVID infection. These findings shed light on the complex nature of long COVID and pave the way for targeted interventions to alleviate its debilitating effects.

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