COVID-19 Can Cause Brain Shrinkage, According To Study

Understanding Long COVID and the Brain

Research Focus: Understanding the long-term effects of COVID-19 on the brain.
Method: Tracking nearly 800 people for several years through brain scans and cognitive tests.
Expert Commentary: Dr. John Schwartzberg, an infectious disease expert, discussed the findings in a YouTube video.

Cerebral Atrophy (Brain Shrinkage): Individuals who had COVID-19 showed significant brain shrinkage compared to a control group.
Loss of Gray Matter: COVID-19 survivors experienced an accelerated loss of gray matter in the brain.
Cognitive Decline: The study found a larger Cognitive Decline in people who had recovered from COVID-19.
Sense of Smell: The brain regions associated with the sense of smell also showed damage.
Duration of Effects: These changes remained noticeable up to a year after the individuals had contracted the virus.

Significance: Dr. Schwartzberg highlighted the study as important and disturbing, pointing to the significant changes observed in the brains of COVID-19 survivors.
Long COVID: The findings might add a new aspect to "long COVID," which refers to lingering symptoms after recovering from the virus.
Preventative Measures: Dr. Schwartzberg emphasized the importance of avoiding COVID-19 infection through vaccination and other preventative measures to not only prevent severe illness but also potential long-term consequences highlighted in the study.

Further Research: More extensive studies are needed to confirm these findings and understand if the brain changes are reversible.
Public Health Response: While awaiting more data, the public is urged to continue taking precautions to avoid COVID-19, keeping in mind the potential long-term effects on the brain.

Personal Precautions: Dr. Schwartzberg mentioned that he remains cautious by getting vaccinated and boosted, and by evaluating the necessity and safety of activities to avoid COVID-19 infection.
Uncertainty: It is unclear if the damage to the brain regions associated with the sense of smell and other impacts can be reversed, indicating a critical area for future research.