Brain fog in long Covid sufferers may be caused by leaky blood vessels.
Long Covid brain fog could be caused by leaky blood vessels
Scientists have theorised that catching the virus causes disruption in the blood-brain barrier of some victims, causing the cognitive issues experienced in those battling the condition.
Researchers from Trinity College Dublin and FutureNeuro analysed data from 76 patients who were hospitalised with the virus in March or April 2020 – as well as 25 people before the pandemic.
The findings demonstrate that those with long Covid who had leaks in the blood-brain barrier had brain fog, while those without disruption did not.
Matthew Campbell, principal investigator at FutureNeuro, praised the research for identifying a possible cause of the worrying condition.
He said: "For the first time, we have been able to show that leaky blood vessels in the human brain, in tandem with a hyperactive immune system, may be the key drivers of brain fog associated with long Covid.
"This is critically important, as understanding the underlying cause of these conditions will allow us to develop targeted therapies for patients in the future."