We Just Got More Evidence That Long COVID Is a Brain Injury

The exact nature of long COVID is still coming to light, but we just got some of the best evidence yet that this debilitating condition stems from a brain injury.

Using high-resolution scanners, researchers at the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford have shown microscopic, structural abnormalities in the brainstems of those recovering from COVID-19.

Signs of brain inflammation were present up to 18 months after first contracting the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

“We show that the brainstem is a site of vulnerability to long-term effects of COVID-19, with persistent changes evident in the months after hospitalization,” the authors of the study conclude.

https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awae215

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  • Josey_Wales@lemm.eeEnglish
    21·
    12 hours ago

    How do you know that the majority of people with Long COVID were vaccinated. This 2023 study says

    Current studies suggest that covid-19 vaccines might have protective and therapeutic effects on long covid. More robust comparative observational studies and trials are needed, however, to clearly determine the effectiveness of vaccines in preventing and treating long covid.

    • FundMECFSResearch@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
      321·
      11 hours ago

      The majority of the NIH’s Recover Cohort (the largest studied cohort of people with Long COVID) was vaccinated.

      Recent literature reviews put the risk of getting long COVID at about 10% for vaccinated people and 12% for unvaccinated. So definitely it helps, but it really isn’t a miracle. And the studies showing vaccines had a therapeutic effect on long COVID itself failed replication.

      • jatone@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
        2·
        3 hours ago

        10%/12% compared to what? those are just noise without the reference point. are we talking hospitalized cases? etc? those are already significantly reduced once you get the vaccine vs not vaxed.

        if the reference point is after you already have an extremely severe case of covid then no shit it doesnt help by then your body is flooded with the virus. by the time that happens your immune system is already overwhelmed and of course being vaxxed isnt going to help in that scenario the payload in the environment is too high its going to do what its going to do.

        Vaccines reduce the chance of a virus from reaching overwhelming loads within the body, if the virus manages to do it anyways then all vaccines do is help speed up the recovery at the point. they don’t prevent the damage that can be caused once you hit high loads. they can reduce the severity of the damage by having the loads drop faster but not prevent, at the point you hit high viral loads your stuck with dumb luck for your outcome.