Publication date: Aug 17, 2026
According to a recent study published in Brain, Behavior, & Immunity Health, COVID-19 can induce lasting changes in the brain even after recovery. Researchers examined 47 participants, including individuals with long COVID, those who fully recovered, and healthy controls, using brain scanning techniques such as MRI. The study revealed altered brain tissue patterns, specifically elevated myelin signals in regions like the precentral gyrus and middle temporal gyrus in both long COVID patients and those who recovered, alongside changes in water diffusion and neurochemical balances. Notably, long COVID patients exhibited higher levels of N-acetyl-aspartate, while recovered individuals had increased glutamine levels. These findings suggest a correlation between myelin health and the severity of long COVID symptoms, highlighting the potential for lasting neurological impacts following a viral infection.
| Concepts | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Australia | Altered |
| Daily | Brain |
| Expert | Chemical |
| Mri | Compared |
| Viral | Covid |
| Group | |
| Individuals | |
| Long | |
| Myelin | |
| Participants | |
| Recovered | |
| Signals | |
| Tissue | |
| Virus | |
| Water |
Semantics
| Type | Source | Name |
|---|---|---|
| drug | DRUGBANK | Copper |
| disease | MESH | fatigue |
| disease | MESH | brain fog |
| disease | MESH | COVID-19 |
| disease | MESH | long COVID |
| drug | DRUGBANK | Water |
| disease | MESH | viral infection |
| disease | MESH | included |
| disease | MESH | infection |
| disease | MESH | image |
| disease | MESH | inflammation |
| pathway | REACTOME | Metabolism |
| drug | DRUGBANK | L-Glutamine |
| disease | MESH | cognitive symptoms |
| disease | MESH | cognitive dysfunction |