(ANSA) – Rome, November 21 – There will be long-term effects due to Covid. Associated neurological symptoms include difficulty thinking or concentrating, headaches, trouble sleeping, dizziness, a pins-and-needles sensation, a change in sense of smell or taste, and depression or anxiety.
The researchers used a special type of MRI scan on 46 patients who had recovered from the virus and 30 healthy controls to analyze the effects. MRI scans were performed within six months of recovery. Among patients with long Covid, the most common symptoms were fatigue, difficulty sleeping, lack of attention and memory problems. MRI results showed that the recovered patients had abnormalities of the frontal lobe and brainstem compared to the healthy controls.
“These brain regions are associated with fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, depression, headaches, and cognitive problems,” Mishra said. Also associated with the frontal lobe are language comprehension and production, attention, motor inhibition and imagination, as well as social cognitive processes.
The researchers also found a significant difference in the right diencephalon region of the brainstem. This region is associated with many critical bodily functions, including coordinating with the endocrine system to secrete hormones, transmitting sensory and motor signals to the cerebral cortex, and regulating circadian rhythms (the sleep-wake cycle).
“This study highlights the serious long-term complications that coronavirus can cause, even after months of recovering from infection,” Mishra said. The researchers are currently conducting a longitudinal study in the same group of patients to determine whether these brain abnormalities persist over a longer period of time. (Dealing).
Reproduction is reserved © ANSA Copyright
“Food expert. Unapologetic bacon maven. Beer enthusiast. Pop cultureaholic. General travel scholar. Total internet buff.”
