Loss of Grey Matter Seen in COVID-19 Survivors

A long-term study has found evidence of COVID-19 causing a loss of grey matter within the brains of infected individuals.

Over the course of the pandemic, it has become increasingly clear that COVID-19 is more than just a respiratory disease. لعبة القمار ورق Symptoms can range from a mild cough and fever to a more severe stroke, chest pain, seizures, and breathlessness. كيف تربح في الكازينو Neurological symptoms have become increasingly common, especially among the older population. Earlier this year, autopsies of COVID-19 patients had revealed extensive inflammation and damage within the brain. Now, further investigation has revealed a loss of grey matter in COVID-19 survivors.

Grey matter is a major portion of the Central Nervous System. Unlike white matter, the axons and glial cells within gray matter is not surrounded by the white myelin sheath. Hence, the name. It is primarily located on the surface of the brain, cortex, brainstem, cerebellum, and throughout the spinal cord. Gray matter is responsible for controlling brain functions including memory, emotions, muscle control, speech, and sensory perception.

Several factors can alter the volume of gray matter within different areas of the brain. Increasing age, use of alcohol, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and Alzheimer’s disease can all cause a loss of gray matter.

Brain Changes Similar to Alzheimer’s Disease

The team utilized data from UK Biobank, a large-scale biomedical database containing genetic and health information from thousands of UK participants. Prior to the pandemic, the Biobank had conducted imaging scans on more than 40,000 participants. The researchers recruited 782 of these participants. These participants were asked to return for a follow-up scan. Out of these 394 patients had contracted a COVID-19 infection in between their two scans. Therefore, the study included 394 COVID-19 survivors and a control group with 388 healthy volunteers. Majority of the COVID-19 survivors had suffered from a mild or asymptomatic infection.

Results revealed a significant loss of grey matter in the COVID-19 survivors. The loss of brain tissue occurred in areas involved in sensory perception such as smell and taste. Furthermore, scans of hospitalized patients revealed a reduction in grey matter volume in areas involved in memory. The study authors believe that the brain changes observed are similar to those seen in Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related disorders. bet365 casino

According to study authors, this is the first longitudinal study to include scans prior to and post a COVID-19 infection.

Reference:

Douaud, Gwenaëlle, et al. “Brain Imaging before and after COVID-19 in UK Biobank.” 2021, doi:10.1101/2021.06.11.21258690.